The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Gold rings especially were worn by both men and women and were enriched by elaborate compositions, including finely carved gemstones. In Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Hades gave pomegranate seeds to his lover Persephone, as a token of safety, while she was leaving the underworld to join her mother Demeter in the human world. The semi-precious stone, recalling the colour and the shape of the pomegranate seed, became a typical gift exchanged between separated lovers.,
To find out more about Roman jewellery please see our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Gemstones in Ancient Jewellery.