Ave!

Ring, Medieval, Magic, Travelers, 10th-14th Cent

Copper alloy; 5.6gm, Ring size 4

Con/ As fabricated, dark green patina with earthen fill, sound and certainly wearable

Description/ Cast as one piece then engraved; uncertain motif; bridge or roads within mountains?

Seller's Note/ Ground-found in the north-west Balkans, the mountains certainly suggest the Slovenian Alps. Most likely this ring was worn by a merchant (from Zagreb or Belgrade?) who may have had frequent business connections in Vienna, or a similar city.

Concerning medieval magic rings, accurate timing is difficult. These types of rings are called magic rings because they seem to have meaningful symbols; medieval people were superstitious and believed that things (health, crop, wealth, weather, cattle, security, salvation, protection against spirits, etc) could be effected with talismans, spells, etc., therefore it is believed that these rings were made as protective or influential talismanic items.

Rings were made to be worn, not tucked away. The longer this ring is worn the better it will look!