In Ancient Roman society, jewellery was an essential accessory, providing the wearer with a public display of their wealth, social status, and identity. The subject used for intaglios are diverse, with depictions of deities being a favourite theme. Apollo, who was known to the Romans as Phoebus, was one of the most important deities in the Graeco-Roman canon. The twin brother of the goddess Diana (Artemis) from Jupiter (Zeus) and Leto, he was the god of music and poetry, truth and prophecy, archery, medicine, and the sun among other attributes. His multivalent nature, cultural importance, and prevalence in mythology made him a popular deity both for worship and for artistic interpretation. He had key sanctuaries at Delos and Rhodes – with Rhodes being famous for one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
To find out more about intaglios, please visit our relevant blog post: Engraved Gemstones in Ancient Rome.
