Ancient Roman signet ring. Set with one central oval hardstone intaglio in a closed back Roman set setting engraved with a lion catching a gazelle, to an oval signet featuring a twisted wire border and polished edges, leading to trumpeting shoulders and flowing through to a tapered flat shank.Tested yellow gold, approximately 6.15 grams in weight, circa 2nd century AD.

The motif of a lion catching a gazelle reflects the ancient Roman fascination with themes of power, dominance, and the natural order. The scene symbolised strength, victory, and the inevitability of fate. Such iconography was commonly associated with the arena, where wild beasts were pitted against each other or human combatants in spectacles of imperial might. Beyond its martial and entertainment connotations, the scene also carried philosophical and mythological significance, echoing Stoic ideas of cosmic order and the struggle between civilization and nature.

Worn as a personal seal, this ring would have conveyed the wearer’s alignment with these ideals, reinforcing their identity within the hierarchical and conquest-driven world of the Roman Empire.

This ring is in fine condition, commensurate with its age.