Engraved on this flat oval ringstone is Venus, depicted in three-quarter back view, standing next to a column, on a short groundline. She is nude but for a himation wrapped around her legs, and holds a dove in her hand. The three-quarter back view for depictions of females was very popular in the Italic series. For two banded agate ringstones in similar style depicting a Muse reading from a scroll, perhaps from the same workshop, see nos. 163-164 in M. Maaskant-Kleibrink, Catalogue of the Engraved Gems in the Royal Coin Cabinet, The Hague.
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Masterpieces in Miniature: Ancient Engraved Gems formerly in the G. Sangiorgi Collection Part III
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