Theseus Ring
{{Short description|Greek gold signet ring from the 15th century BC}}
{{Infobox artefact
| image =
| created = {{circa}} 1450 BC
| discovered_place = Athens, Greece
| caption =
| height = 1.8 cm
| material = Gold
| width = 2.7 cm
| discovered_date = {{circa}} 1955
| location = National Archaeological Museum, Athens[https://www.namuseum.gr/en/monthly_artefact/dangerous-bull-games/ "Dangerous Bull Games, NAMA website exhibit of the month October 2022"]
}}
The Theseus Ring is a gold signet ring that dates back to the 15th-century BC, in the Mycenaean period, though the subject is typical of Minoan art. The ring is gold and measures 2.7 x 1.8 cm. On the ring is a depiction of a bull-leaping scene, which includes a lion to the left and what may be a tree on the right. It comes from the area of Anafiotika in the Plaka, the ancient city center of Athens, where it was found in a pile of earth during building operations. It now belongs to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.[https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2015/01/14/ring-theseus-display-first-time/ "The Ring of Theseus on display for the first time"], with image. There is no assertion that the ring actually belonged to Theseus, whose myth includes a gold ring.
The antiquity of the Theseus Ring was debated after its discovery in the Plaka district of Athens in the 1950s. For a while it was dismissed as a fake, but as of 2006, the ring has been identified as an authentic 15th century BC artifact. The Greek press had reported the discovery of a gold signet ring, and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens wanted to purchase it for 75,000 euros from the woman who owned it. After an examination by a panel of experts at the Cultural Ministry, the piece was declared to be genuine.
Origin of the name in legend
The ring was named the "Theseus Ring" because of an ancient Greek myth about Theseus.{{Citation Needed|date=September 2023}} According to this story, there was a dispute between Minos and Theseus over the parentage of Theseus. In Crete, Minos molested one of the maidens and Theseus became angry and challenged him, boasting of his parentage by Poseidon. Minos, being the son of Zeus, did not believe that Theseus did indeed have divine parentage. Minos believed that if Theseus' father was in fact Poseidon, Theseus would have no difficulty reaching the bottom of the ocean. Minos threw a ring overboard and challenged Theseus to dive in and retrieve it. The fishes of the sea then took Theseus upon their backs and conveyed him to the palace of Amphitrite, Poseidon's wife. She handed Theseus the ring that had landed at the bottom of the ocean floor and also gave him a jeweled crown, which was later placed among the stars.Bacchylides 17
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.namuseum.gr/en/hidden_museum/quot-the-ring-of-theseus-quot/ “The Ring of Theseus”, Unseen Museum, 12 January 2015 - 15 March 2015], National Archaeological Museum.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060805054646/http://science.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1186294.php/Greek_archaeologists_confirm_authenticity_of_Theseus_Ring Greek archaeologists confirm authenticity of "Theseus Ring"]
- [http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/theseus.html Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Theseus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115021550/http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/theseus.html |date=2006-11-15 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061024015842/http://www.jjkent.com/articles/first-rings-mythology.htm Rings in Mythology]
- [http://www.mythweb.com/heroes/theseus/theseus13.html Theseus and the Ring] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115022601/http://www.mythweb.com/heroes/theseus/theseus13.html |date=2006-11-15 }}
{{National Archaeological Museum of Athens}}
Category:15th-century BC works
Category:1950s archaeological discoveries
Category:Archaeological discoveries in Attica
Category:Minoan archaeological artifacts
Category:National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Category:Ancient Greek metalwork