Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Ring with narrow shaft and oval box set with cameo of Medusa

Roman Period
3rd century CE
Not on view
Gorgoneia or Medusa-heads were ubiquitious until the end of Greco-Roman antiquity. They appeared in many contexts, including personal jewelry. On the one hand they might serve as protective amulets, but they also serve the wearer as a concise touchstone for a rich mythological substratum.

This Medusa head is carved in cameo technique, that is raised from the surface, rather than intaglio, that is sunken from the surface. Often as here cameos are also cut in banded stones that allow the carver to create an image and background of different colors.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ring with narrow shaft and oval box set with cameo of Medusa
  • Period: Roman Period
  • Date: 3rd century CE
  • Geography: From Egypt
  • Medium: Gold, onyx
  • Dimensions: 1.7 x 2.2 cm (11/16 x 7/8 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.130.1428
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Boat-shaped earrings with filigree and granule decoration, Gold
Boat-shaped earrings with filigree and granule decoration
1st–2nd century CE
Walking lion, Sardonyx, mounted in gold as a ring, probably Italian
Walking lion
probably Italian
18th century
Boat-shaped earrings with filagree and granule decoration, Gold
Boat-shaped earrings with filagree and granule decoration
1st–2nd century CE
Cameo ring with three profile heads, Onyx, gold., probably Italian
Cameo ring with three profile heads
probably Italian
19th century
Snake bracelet, Gold
Snake bracelet
1st century CE

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.