ROMAN BRONZE RING WITH SUN SYMBOL

Ca. 100-300 AD
A bronze finger ring featuring a round hoop with a slight carination, providing a comfortable fit for the wearer. The smooth inside enhances the wearing experience, while the incised shoulders add a touch of decorative detail. However, it is the large bezel that steals the spotlight, characterized by a stepped-in border and an expertly engraved central depiction of a stylized sun with 12 rays. The sun holds great importance in Roman mythology and symbolism, representing various aspects such as vitality, power, and divinity. It was associated with Sol, the Roman god of the sun, and was considered a significant celestial body in the ancient Roman worldview. The depiction of the stylized sun with 12 rays on this bronze ring may hold further significance. In Roman culture, the number 12 had symbolic connotations, representing completeness and cosmic order. It aligns with the twelve-month calendar and the zodiac signs, indicating a connection to time, cycles, and celestial harmony.
Size: D: 17.93mm / US: 7 3/4 / UK: P; 6.11g
Provenance: Private London collector, acquired on the Austrian Art market, formerly in an old USA collection formed since the 1970s.
Estimate: GBP 200 - 300