Finger Ring with Intaglio Depicting Eros

<p>For both men and women in the Roman world, jewelry functioned as a visible sign of wealth, social standing,<br>and gender. Artists of the time created some works in accord with earlier Hellenistic and Etruscan preferences<br>for the extravagant and conspicuous use of gold. Over time, imperial expansion increased Romans’ access to a variety of valuable materials, leading to a distinctly Roman taste for jewelry incorporating color—typically in the form of gemstones or glass, as seen in this ring.</p>