ROMAN JASON INTAGLIO IN GOLD RING 1st-3rd century AD An inset carnelian cloison intaglio of a man, probably Jason, ploughing with two bulls, temple or palace silhouette in the back; set in a sympathetic modern gold flat-section hoop with three ribs to the outer face with central filigree decoration. 3.41 grams, 21.35mm overall, 18.27mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 17) (3/4"). Very fine condition. Provenance Property of a European collector; acquired Europe, 1980s-1990s. Footnotes The ploughing man may represent one of the most famous Greek heroes Jason. In his quest to obtain the Golden Fleece he sailed to Colchis, where King Aeetes promised to give it to Jason only if he could perform three nearly impossible tasks. However, Hera had persuaded Aphrodite to convince her son Eros to make Aeetes' daughter, Medea, the sorceress, fall in love with Jason. As a result, Medea aided Jason in his tasks. First, Jason had to plough a field with fire-breathing oxen, the Khalkotauroi, that he had to yoke himself. Medea provided an ointment that protected him from the oxen's flames. Then, Jason sowed the teeth of a dragon into a field, which sprouted into an army of warriors . Medea had previously warned Jason of this and told him how to defeat them: before they attacked him, he threw a rock into the crowd. Unable to discover where the rock had come from, the soldiers attacked and defeated one another. His last task was to overcome the sleepless dragon which guarded the Golden Fleece. Jason sprayed the dragon with a potion, given by Medea, distilled from herbs. The dragon fell asleep, and Jason was finally able to seize the Golden Fleece.
ROMAN JASON INTAGLIO IN GOLD RING 1st-3rd century AD An inset carnelian cloison intaglio of a man, probably Jason, ploughing with two bulls, temple or palace silhouette in the back; set in a sympathetic modern gold flat-section hoop with three ribs to the outer face with central filigree decoration. 3.41 grams, 21.35mm overall, 18.27mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 17) (3/4"). Very fine condition. Provenance Property of a European collector; acquired Europe, 1980s-1990s. Footnotes The ploughing man may represent one of the most famous Greek heroes Jason. In his quest to obtain the Golden Fleece he sailed to Colchis, where King Aeetes promised to give it to Jason only if he could perform three nearly impossible tasks. However, Hera had persuaded Aphrodite to convince her son Eros to make Aeetes' daughter, Medea, the sorceress, fall in love with Jason. As a result, Medea aided Jason in his tasks. First, Jason had to plough a field with fire-breathing oxen, the Khalkotauroi, that he had to yoke himself. Medea provided an ointment that protected him from the oxen's flames. Then, Jason sowed the teeth of a dragon into a field, which sprouted into an army of warriors . Medea had previously warned Jason of this and told him how to defeat them: before they attacked him, he threw a rock into the crowd. Unable to discover where the rock had come from, the soldiers attacked and defeated one another. His last task was to overcome the sleepless dragon which guarded the Golden Fleece. Jason sprayed the dragon with a potion, given by Medea, distilled from herbs. The dragon fell asleep, and Jason was finally able to seize the Golden Fleece.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
