A fine electrum greek ring. Paris seated with an harrow.

Late 4th century B.C.

19 x ...

A fine electrum greek ring. Paris seated with an harrow.

Late 4th century B.C.

19 x 22 mm; ring size 16 x 19 mm circa; 9,72 gr.

The young character is facing left, sitting on a rock on which small plants grow. The figure is naked and partially covered only by a leontea; on the head the Phrygian hat. The head is facing slightly downwards, examining a long arrow that he holds in his hands, observing it carefully. Near the right leg a long object can be seen, probably a spear. Behind his back, on the field, a star and crescent moon. These attributes identify the ring as made in Asia Minor. A similar scene is featured on another gold ring, in which a seated Persian controls an arrow (J. Boardman, Greek Gems and Finger Rings, p. 297 n. 681). The very typical pose will recur on some later greek coins (for example, Seleucid Kingdom, Antiochos II Theos, 261-246 BC, AR tetradrachm reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos, examining arrow & resting hand on grounded bow). The identification of the character, who can be considered Paris, is not entirely certain. According to the myth, Paris killed Achilles with an arrow, under the leadership of Apollo during the Trojan War. The Leontea would be an addition to his military virtus and his triumph, as in a syncretic consecration. The oriental connotation is however predominant, both for the style and for the presence of crescent with a star (Asia Minor). Slight signs of wear. Small deformation on the rod of the ring, not perfectly straight when viewed in profile. Pleasant patina and deposits, with intact surface. On the back, there are some micro craters, probably due to the metal fusion of the ring before being engraved. Extremely rare.

Provenance: english private collection B.C., London, acquired on the London art market in 1975.