As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth. As a result of the expansion of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborate in its designs and materials used, such as precious and semi-precious gemstones, including carnelian. The most popular type of Roman jewellery were rings, as Romans of Imperial Times enjoyed to wear big rings, extravagantly decorated with cameos or engraved precious stones. Both men and women would have worn multiple rings on each finger, competing in vanity for the one having the bigger or heavier ring.
Intaglio rings were a popular style of jewellery in Ancient Rome and have been uncovered across the full geographic extent of the former Roman Empire. The nature of their individual production meant that designs and details show a wide variety, though there are common themes, such as certain gods, which were especially popular.
To discover more about Roman jewellery, please visit our relevant blog post: Roman Jewellery: Gold Rings.
