An example of a certain pattern found on a beautiful ring. I must add that I have not been able to find the ultimate source of this image.
Pinterest describes it as "ROMAN GOLD OPENWORK RING Circa 3rd-4th century AD. A gold openwork finger ring formed with two bands of ropework filigree connected by a continuous double-looped wire. Gold"
![[Image: 535557c48c496f2466f4773d96ad9cb4.jpg]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/53/55/57/535557c48c496f2466f4773d96ad9cb4.jpg)
In Greco-Roman Egypt, the serpent was seen as a protector even more so than as an antagonist. The thought behind this is that this dangerous animal is a powerful guardian against enemies and harm. That is the reason why we often find serpents on personal items, things that were worn on the body. Call it a talisman or lucky charm. The ring above shows that the wavy pattern of the serpent could be abstracted, still maintaining the same meaning without depicting the full animal.
Som more examples. A Roman period fibula (brooch)
![[Image: 0ac36aef31edd691c8646e7ddb7c86ba.jpg]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/0a/c3/6a/0ac36aef31edd691c8646e7ddb7c86ba.jpg)
Ptolemaic amulet:
![[Image: 7bed2ee9cbf79a396b48623b9c7b2b50.jpg]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7b/ed/2e/7bed2ee9cbf79a396b48623b9c7b2b50.jpg)
Another nice abstracted example of the shape, Ptolemaic amulet:
![[Image: an_egyptian_gold_coiled_snake_amulet_pto...48649h.jpg]](http://www.christies.com/lotfinderimages/D55486/an_egyptian_gold_coiled_snake_amulet_ptolemaic-roman_period_circa_3rd_d5548649h.jpg)
This is something common to several ancient cultures, for example Diane has written about how something very similar happened with the Aegis. I have been running into more and more examples that illustrate what she has said about this wavy line, that it has existed since antiquity and that its meaning has remained the same: protection, a barrier, a line that marks a transition between different domains.
Pinterest describes it as "ROMAN GOLD OPENWORK RING Circa 3rd-4th century AD. A gold openwork finger ring formed with two bands of ropework filigree connected by a continuous double-looped wire. Gold"
In Greco-Roman Egypt, the serpent was seen as a protector even more so than as an antagonist. The thought behind this is that this dangerous animal is a powerful guardian against enemies and harm. That is the reason why we often find serpents on personal items, things that were worn on the body. Call it a talisman or lucky charm. The ring above shows that the wavy pattern of the serpent could be abstracted, still maintaining the same meaning without depicting the full animal.
Som more examples. A Roman period fibula (brooch)
Ptolemaic amulet:
Another nice abstracted example of the shape, Ptolemaic amulet:
This is something common to several ancient cultures, for example Diane has written about how something very similar happened with the Aegis. I have been running into more and more examples that illustrate what she has said about this wavy line, that it has existed since antiquity and that its meaning has remained the same: protection, a barrier, a line that marks a transition between different domains.