A beautiful gold ring with a purple stone inlay was recently discovered during a massive excavation done by the Israel Antiquities Authority at Yavne as part of the Israel Land Authority’s proposal to expand the city.

Dr. Yotam Asher of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s analytical laboratory examined the ring and discovered that the stone is largely constituted of silica, a substance found in many gemstones. The notion that the purple inlay is made entirely of glass was ruled out by this investigation. The ring is 5.11 grams in weight.

Unknown age

Researchers are debating the date of the ring. It was found in a fill dated to the end of the Byzantine period and the beginning of the Early Islamic period – the 7th century CE, but it is possible that the ring, due to its beauty and prestige, was transmitted from generation to generation over the centuries.

Gold rings inlaid with amethyst stone are known in the Roman world, and it is possible that the ring’s find belongs to the elites who lived in the city as early as the 3rd century CE.

“The person who owned the ring was affluent, and the wearing of the jewel indicated their status and wealth. Such rings could be worn by both men and womenn who owned the ring was wealthy, and the use of the jewel indicated their status and wealth. These rings could be worn by both men and women,” said Amir Golani, an expert in ancient jewelry with the Israel Antiquities Authority, who examined the find.

“prevention of the side effect of drinking, the hangover”

Golani adds that, “a semi-precious stone, called an amethyst, was placed in the ring. Amethysts are mentioned in Bible as one of the 12 precious stones worn by the high priest of the Temple on his ceremonial breastplate. Many virtues have been attached to this gem, including the prevention of the side effect of drinking, the hangover”.

“Did the person who wore the ring want to avoid intoxication due to drinking a lot of wine? We probably will never know,” says Elie Haddad, director of the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority, as reported by Israel Today.

“The ring was found just 150 metres from the remains of a long warehouse, which was used to store wine jars (amphorae). Some of the jars were found upside down on their mouths and it may have been a warehouse full of empty jars before they were taken to the winepresses, to fill with wine. It is possible that the splendid ring belonged to the owner of the magnificent warehouse, to a foreman, or simply to an unlucky visitor, who dropped and lost their precious ring, until it was finally discovered by us,” he added.

Image Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

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