Authentic Roman intaglio (1st-2nd century AD) on chalcedony, depicting the goddess Athena/Minerva with spear and shield 18 kt gold ring

This 18 kt gold ring has been set with a Genuine Roman Intaglio on green chalcedony, dating back to the 1st-2nd century AD, which depicts the goddess Athena (Minerva for the Romans) with a spear and a shield, truly unique, which simulates a human face in profile.

Probably the Roman engraver who created the stone 2000 years ago wanted to emphasize one of Athena's attributes, the aegis, which was the shield of the Goddess on which the profile of Medusa was carved.

One of the most recognizable of the Greek Goddesses, Athena is the symbol of wisdom, courage, and was the patroness of the great city of Athens. Athena’s life passion was to protect and lead the people of Athens. She fought for values like justice, truth, and moral values and put it all on the line to protect her beliefs.
She was fearless and was exalted for her heroic endeavors and her unmatched intellect earned her the title of the Goddess of War. What made Athena’s approach unique, was she prioritized strategy over fighting and did not encourage violence. As the daughter of Zeus, Athena embodied similar power, influence, and leadership representing the citizens of Athens.

As a Goddess of the people, Athena did not find companionship in the traditional sense but instead from her community and from within herself. Throughout the Greek world, she is often referred to as Athena Polias or “Athena of the City.” An unwavering trailblazer, Athena’s strength and independence made her an unstoppable force.

Although her wisdom and dedication made her fit to lead, Athena was still met with challenges along the way where she had to prove herself. Most notably was the power struggle with Poseidon for the city of Athens. Both Poseidon and Athena presented the citizens with a gift to demonstrate their ability to lead. As the God of the Sea, Poseidon created a source of water intended to be a resource for the people. In theory this would have been incredibly valuable, but when the citizens went to drink the water, they quickly learned that instead of freshwater it was salt. Relying on her quick-wit, Athena gifted the citizens with an olive tree that met many of the city’s needs: it provided fruit, oil for cooking, and wood to build homes and shelter. It was obvious that she was the leader that could create a better life for her people.
In honor of her inherent wisdom, Athena’s symbol was the owl.

The aegis as stated in the Iliad, is a device carried by Athena and Zeus, variously interpreted as an animal skin or a shield and sometimes featuring the head of a Gorgon, like Medusa.
The modern concept of doing something "under someone's aegis" means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source. The word aegis is identified with protection by a strong force with its roots in Greek mythology and adopted by the Romans
The aegis of Athena is referred to in several places in the Iliad. "It produced a sound as from myriad roaring dragons (Iliad, 4.17) and was borne by Athena in battle .."

Our jewelry store, Serra Roma, proudly presents an exquisite collection that beautifully honors the ancient traditions of Greek and Roman civilizations. Each piece in our collection, including authentic ancient Roman and Greek coins and intaglios, is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, providing proof of its historical significance and origin.