Greek Ring with Horse. c.450 B.C. A bronze ring with facetted hoop tapering upwards towards the pointed broad oval bezel, engraved with the image of Pegasus, the winged horse. Cf. Marshall, F. M., Catalogue of the Finger Rings Greek, Etruscan and Roman in the Departments of Antiquities of the British Museum, London, 1907 (1968), fig. CXI, no.49, for the type. 6.66 grams, 24.92 mm overall, 19.84 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19) (1 in.) Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. Pegasus, the most famous of the winged horses, derives from the figure of the ancient god of thunderstorms in Hittite mythology, who bears the epithet of Pihassassa. Part of the myth about him would have passed from the Luvi to the ancient Greeks. The myth of the winged horse was widespread in the ancient world: once adopted by the Romans it was partially Christianised in the 4th century A.D. [No Reserve]

Fine condition.