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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 December 2013
Among the silver rings in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities in the British Museum are seven which have a stud or nail of gold driven through the bezel. The intaglio designs on these rings are as follows:—
(1) Two sphinxes confronted. (2) Ox-head and bird placed opposite one another on oblong bezel. (3) Recumbent lion to r. looking back over its shoulder. Cf. Furtwängler, Besehreibung der geschn. Steine im Antiq., No. 152. These three designs are archaic in style. (4) Woman seated to r., holding out dove on 1. hand. Cf. a coin of Eryx (Gardner, Types of Greek Coins, PI. VI. 3). On the ring a wreath takes the place of the standing Eros. (5) Design similar to last, but in reverse direction; no wreath.
The last two rings are of good style, but poor execution (4th—3rd cent. B.C.). (6) Very much worn; a female figure can be made out. (7) A very curious design, which I am unable to explain. A jackal's head surmounts a vaselike object. Before the head is a curved, behind, a straight handle (?).
1 For other examples, see Dalton, , Cat. of Early Christian Antiquities, 238Google Scholar; Pollak, , Klassisch-Ant. Goldschmiedearb., PI. xviii. 429Google Scholar. The latter's explanation of the presence of the nail—that it is to protect the design in relief —seems to me quite impossible; Archaeologia, 44, Pl 13. 8, p. 360.
2 The descriptions apply to impressions.
3 Furtwängler, (Die Bronzen von Olympia, 1187, 1187a, p. 187 n.)Google Scholar has apparently confused (1) and (2). In his Ant. Gemm. iii. p. 90 he has described them correctly, and rightly considers that the presence of the nail is a sign of superstitious belief.
4 Il. i. 245 f.
5 Cf. Jahn, O., Berichte d. Kön. Sächs. Gesell, zu Leipzig, 1855, pp. 106 ffGoogle Scholar.
6 The British Museum possesses such a tablet. Cf. also ᾿Εφ.᾿Αρχ 1903, p. 55 : MissHarrison, , Prolegomena, to the Study of Greek Religion, p. 141 ffGoogle Scholar.
7 Fasti 2. 577 f.
8 Cf. Rohde, , Psyche ii 2, p. 88Google Scholar n.
9 Liv. vii. 3; cf. further Preller, , Röm. Mythologie i 3, pp. 258Google Scholar ff.
10 Quoted by Brand, , Pop. Ant. (ed. Hazlitt, ) iii. p. 255Google Scholar.
11 A lead nail found in the Sanctuary of Asclepios in Paros bears the inscription 
Rubensohn, , in Athen. Mitt, xxvii, p. 229Google Scholar, suggests that the nail was driven into the wall of the sanctuary as a protection against fire.
12 With this may be compared a cure for epilepsy mentioned by Brand, op. cit. p. 255. ‘In Devonshire is a similar custom…The ring must be made of three nails or screws which have been used to fasten a coffin, and must be dug out of the churchyard.’
13 L. 883 f.
14 Op. cit. p. 254.