Roman Snake Ring, Silver

Roman Snake Ring

Replica of a Roman finger ring in the shape of a snake. The original dates from the 1st to the 3rd century. The replica is made by hand from pure sterling silver. The details of the beautiful snake are made very close to nature!
The ring is carefully forged to harden the material and then adjusted to the desired size. If necessary, with some caution, the size can also be easily adjusted by yourself afterwards.

Roman Snake Ring

The symbolism of the serpent motif is extremely complex. On the one hand, the snake is a predator that kills and devours. In the age of the Egyptians, the god of destruction and chaos, Apep or Apophis, appears as a giant serpent, but on the other hand, as the Uraeus snake on the head of the pharaoh, it protects its wearer. Even in the Old Testament, the serpent is the messenger of the devil, bringing ruin and downfall. On the other hand, the "bronze serpent" in the book of Moses saves the people of the Israelites from the venom of serpents in the wilderness. Many mythological figures and creatures of antiquity use the fearsome serpent symbolism, such as the Gorgon Medusa or the Hydra, against which the Greek hero Herakles had to compete.
In antiquity, the serpent is found in many forms also in positive contexts. She is assigned to Athena / Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. The snake represents the secret knowledge about life and especially about illness, healing and health. In this sense she also accompanies Aesculapius (or Greek Asclepios), the ancient god of healing and medizine. The taming of the serpent also means victory over the chaos and the mastery of its magical properties. In particular, the shedding of the snakes skin was a very strong proof of the magical or divine powers of the serpents who were in the process of rejuvenating and renewing themselves. They symbolized youth and rebirth, immortality, change and healing.
Also in the private house altars of the Romans, the Lararia, there are always pictures of snakes to be found. This is a manifestation of the Lares Loci or the Genius Loci, which, in contrast to the family-bound Lares Familiares, were firmly attached to the place where the house had been built. Offerings should protect the house and its inhabitants from harm.

Jewelry with serpent motifs is therefore found in many ancient cultures. Particularly beautiful and very close to nature produced snake rings and  bracelets come here from the Roman Empire. Outstanding pieces of precious metal come from the lost Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were buried at the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.