Ca. 100-300 AD.
A bronze finger ring featuring a round hoop, exhibiting a slight carination that adds a subtle visual distinction. The shoulders of the ring are adorned with skillfully executed vertical incisions, adding decorative elements to the overall design. However, it is the bezel that captures attention, displaying hatched sides meticulously engraved with a stylised representation of a thunderbolt. In the Roman world, the thunderbolt held profound symbolic meaning and was closely associated with Jupiter, the king of gods and the god of the sky and thunder. As a celestial weapon, the thunderbolt represented Jupiter's divine power, authority, and ability to unleash lightning and storms. It signified his control over the natural forces and his role as the protector of the Roman state and its people.
Size: D: 18.34mm / US: 8 1/4 / UK: Q; 14.27g
Provenance: Private London collector, acquired on the Austrian Art market, formerly in an old USA collection formed since the 1970s.