Bíró Szilvia - Székely Zoltán: Arrabona - Múzeumi Közlemények 49/1. Tanulmányok T. Szőnyi Eszter emlékére (Győr, 2011)
R. Facsády Annamária: Un type de bijou á dater? Remarques sur la "bague de Caracalla" d'Aquncium
1 __________ ARRABONA 2011.49/1. TANULMÁNYOK IS IT AN EASILY DATABLE JEWEL TYPE? NOTES ON THE “CARACALLA RING” OF AQUINCUM The Aquincum Museum was enriched by the jewel called “Caracalla ring” according to its gem representation in 1913. The golden ring decorated by an amethyst gem was - together with other valuable objects - a grave good of the plain sarcophagus of Vettia Fortunata, who was buried in the western cemetery of the military town. The gem decoration provides only terminus post quem dating to the ring, since the intaglio of very good quality and quite rare material was originally made for another jewel. Comparing the emperor portrait with the coin representations the ring can be dated from after 213. The decisive feature of the ring is the granulate pair beside the shoulders and the pattern of the ring body. The former ornament appeared on the rings in the 2nd century becoming a frequent motive only in the second half of the 3rd century and at the beginning of the 4th century. According to the parallel objects the compound, U-shaped ring body imitating an astralagos-row or beaded wire is also a product of the late Roman age. Based on the individual stylistic features the ring cannot be dated earlier than from the second half of the 3rd century. It could belong to the buried lady and although the gem can be interpreted as an “official” portrait, it might have been used for this ring because of its material and the divine radiation and magical power of the emperor’s portrait. In addition to its jewel function it might also have served as an amulet and in its present form it should not be viewed as a gift from the emperor. Annamária R. Facsády 120
