A large roman italic banded agate intaglio set in a swivel gold ring. Sacrifice to Artemis.

2nd century B.C.

Stone 17 x 22 mm; ring size 16 x 19 mm; 17 gr.

Important italic intaglio set into a collector's heavy swivel ring with a gold impression of the intaglio at its back. The figure has been generally identified heretofore as Diana Nemorensis. This subject may represent Diana Nemorensis or, alternatively, Iphigenia, the founder of Nemi sanctuary togheter with her brother Orestes in the story recounted by Servius (Ad Aen. VI.136). In that depiction, the figure is facing left, wearing a chiton with a himation over it. In her left hand she holds a branch and in her right, a patera. Before her is a garlanded altar, upon which is a deer. Cfr. Martin Henig et al., Classical gems. Ancient and modern intaglio and cameos in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge 1994, p. 77. Francoise-Hélène Pairault, "Diana Nemorensis. Déesse latine, déesse hellénisée", in Melanges d'Archeologie et d'Histoire, vol. LXXXI (1969), pp. 425-471; AGDI I, II Munchen n. 696 and AGD IV, Hannover, n. 73.

Provenance: european private collection.