The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but as the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, so too did jewellery designs become increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity as a dominant, conquering civilisation. The custom of wearing rings was likely introduced by the Sabines, who are described in early legends as wearing gold rings with precious stones. During the Roman Republic it became customary for all the senators, chief magistrates, and at last for the equites also, to wear gold rings.
In Greek and Roman mythology, Silenus is a deity of the forest, drunkenness and wine. He is well known for being the companion to Dionysus and is closely associated with the satyrs. Silenus is said to have raised Dionysus as well as tutor him along with his passion for wine. Dionysus was left in Silenus’ care after being born from Zeus’s thigh and dropped off by Hermes. Although Silenus was believed to be the strongest of the satyrs, he took up a human form in Greek art, presented as a bald man with a shrugged beard, upturned nose and a round belly. His original depiction often consisted of horse features rather than goat which differentiated him from the satyrs. The deity is frequently depicted with a wine glass and drunk although he was considered extremely wise and could tell the future and past of people he crossed.
To discover more about Intaglios, please visit our relevant blog post: Intaglios: Miniature Masterpieces
