The ancient Romans enjoyed wearing jewellery, especially rings, as a way to demonstrate their wealth and social status in Roman society. Rings could have been modelled in gold, silver or bronze, and enriched by precious and semi-precious stones, or even glass. The extremely sophisticated technique of engraving of gemstones, known as intaglio, was one of the most luxurious art forms in the Ancient World. Iconographies might have been driven by mythology, literature, theatre or simply everyday life. Minerva was the goddess of war and wisdom. She was also thought to be the goddess of military victory. She is also considered a goddess of handicraft and practical reason.
To discover more on the use of intaglios, please visit our blog post: Engraved Gemstones in Ancient Rome
