Roman Dolphin Gemstone in Gold Ring 2nd century A.D. A red jasper intaglio gemstone showing a profile head above a dolphin in water, swimming right; set into a possibly later gold ring composed of a D-section hoop expanding at the bezel, with raised oval cell. Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings, The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, Leeds, 1994, item 173, for ring type; Aparaschivei, D. & Costel, C., 'Some Roman Engraved Gemstones of Ibida Fortress (Tulcea County)' in Archaeological Small Finds and their Significance, Proceedings of the International Symposium from Deva, Geoagiu B?i, 23rd – 25th of March 2017, Cluj-Napoca, 2018, figs.4a and 6. 8.27 grams, 26.98 mm overall, 19.60 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20) (1 in.). Ex private Swiss collection, assembled in the 1960s-1970s. With Genève Enchères, 14 December 2017, lot 848. Accompanied by a Genève Enchères lot tag. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.11324-189865. The myth of Arion and the dolphin is well known, and possibly represented here. The sailors who were carrying Arion aboard their ship, upon noticing that he was rich, robbed him and gave him the option of killing himself or jumping into the sea. Arion opted to dive into the sea, but before doing so, he played a song dedicated to Apollo with his zither. Dolphins, attracted by Arion's song, surrounded the ship. When Arion jumped into the sea, one of them loaded him on his back and carried him safely to dry land of Corinth. Arion forgot to push the dolphin back to the sea and the poor animal died. Periander, Tyrant of Corinth and friend of Arion, erected a monument to the dolphin and crucified the evil sailors in front of it. The dolphin, in Graeco-Roman mythology, was considered to be the animal accompanying the souls of the dead into the afterlife. For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website.]