Ring Stone
M10423
Information
Purple-red glass ring stone engraved on one side with a design featuring a crab; the reverse is plain. The ring stone is now missing its original mount; it was probably a magical gem stone, worn as a ring. Magical gem stones are known in the Roman world from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD. Above the crab there are stars and a crescent moon. The wearers and users of such magical gem stones believed that the stones could cure personal health issues. Some of the symbols and inscriptions on them help us identify the health issue. In the case of this crab and because of the star and crescent symbols, this amulet was more about astronomy rather than health issues.