Silver pendant ring with steatite scarab
Unknown Artist
6th–5th century B.C
Medium
Silver, steatite
Dimensions
Other: 5/16 x 1/4 x 1/16 in. (0.9 x 0.6 x 0.2 cm) Other (width of ring): 7/8 in. (2.2 cm)
Classification
Gems|Gold and Silver
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.4171
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver pendant ring, adorned with a steatite scarab, hails from ancient Cyprus during the Archaic period (6th–5th B.C.). Crafted from gleaming silver for the ring band—measuring just 7/8 inch wide—and a tiny steatite (soapstone) scarab beetle (0.9 x 0.6 x 0.2 cm), it exemplifies the fine jewelry of Cypriot artisans. Scarabs, iconic Egyptian symbols of rebirth and protection, were widely adopted in the eastern Mediterranean, reflecting Cyprus's role as a vibrant cultural crossroads influenced by Egypt, Phoenicia, and emerging Greek styles. In the Archaic era, Cyprus thrived as a...