Bidspirit auction | A LARGE HELLENISTIC RING WITH

A LARGE HELLENISTIC RING WITH INTAGLIO OF OMPHALE, 2ND-1ST CENTURY BC - A large Hellenistic gold ring with an intaglio of Omphale standing to the right. The ring is of a type common in Ptolemaic Egypt and the Hellenized orient from the third century BC onwards. They are usually hollow of solid construction, made to be worn. This specimen has an elaborate stepped setting for the stone, an elegant solution for the size of the seal. Omphale was a very popular subject at this period and is often shown with the attributes of Herakles, an allusion to having to swap clothes with Omphale which she owned him as a slave for three years. Gold and carnelian Hellenistic. Height: 34 mm. Length: 42 mm. Width: 33 mm. Size: 18 Weight: 43.80. Grams PROVENANCE Private collection, Belgium since 2000s