Ring with lyre



Ring with lyre

Χ-Α763
Metal (Gold), Stone (Carnelian)
Intact
Diameter: 1.5 cm.
Zakros
Roman period:
100 - 200 AD:
Gallery:
XXII
Case:
219
Exhibition thematic unit:
Classical - Hellenistic - Roman period (5th c. BC-4th c. AD). The Cemeteries
Jewellery
Description
Ring with flat oval bezel and carnelian stone with a lyre. The lyre is made of a whole tortoise shell, which forms its soundbox. The depiction of a musical instrument on a ring stone is fairly rare. It may indicate that the owner was a musician, or it may be a tribute to Hermes, the inventor of the lyre. The lyre’s soundbox was a tortoise shell, while the strings were made of gut. It was played with a pick, like the guitar or zither.
Bibliography:
Unpublished. For parallels see J. Boardman, Greek Gems and Finger Rings: Early Bronze to Late Classical, 1994
Author:
M. K.


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