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.
Maenads in Greek Mythology were the female followers of the god Dionysus. They were the most significant followers of his retinue and were often accompanied by their male counterparts, Satyrs. The term Maenad came from the Greek ‘maenades’, which translated as ‘mad’ or ‘demented’. They were often referred to as raging or frenzied and depicted to portray this. Rings with frenzied maenads existed from the 4th century BC and continued into Roman times. Typically they were depicted in the midst of ecstasy, with their head thrown back, clothing loosely draped around them and leaping high into the air. A few examples exist of maenads standing still. These latter pieces seem to toe-the-line between expressing correct Roman morality and frivolous mythical sensuality.
To discover more about Intaglios, please visit our relevant blog post: Intaglios: Miniature Masterpieces.
