Roman ring, 1st–2nd centuries A.D.

Roman ring, 1st–2nd centuries AD. Made of silver, with a sturdy band and an oval setting decorated with an engraved depiction of a dolphin.

Condition: Features a patina and small concretions consistent with its age.
Measurements: 2 x 2 cm.

During the Early Roman Empire, rings with figurative motifs were a common part of personal adornment and, in certain cases, may also have served a sigillary function. The dolphin, a common motif in Roman iconography, was linked to the marine world and deities such as Neptune, as well as being symbolically associated with protection and good omens.