Ladies with Rings

[Koen G]

While it looks like a ring in the picture, I suppose there is a possibility the VMS "ring" is a diadem or garland.

That is quite possible. I follow Diane in that it's likely that the items on this page have been slightly altered by the 15th c copyists. 
A while ago I wrote about how "the cross" might be an adaptation of a cruciform object commonly carried by Nike (Victory). Nike was one of the few Greco-Roman gods who got adopted into Christianity without too many modifications.

Her most common, and dare I say, timeless attribute, is of course your suggestion of a garland.

Here she is on a Seleucid coin with a "cross", a "ring", and nymph-like-head proportions to boot. (You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.)


The depiction of Nike holding the victor's crown was, and is, of course, very widespread. Just showing this coin because it shows a nice parallel of how the garland could have been translated into a ring.