Period: 2^nd – 3^rd century AD

Dimensions: 11 x 9 mm

Ring Size: 7 ½ 

Weight: 5,31 gr

The ring consists of an amethyst cameo, dating back to the 2nd-3rd century, depicting a handshake, which is set in a yellow gold setting. The peculiar depiction on the cameo refers to an Ancient Roman tradition, where the shaking of the right hand of two engaged couples was considered a gesture of loyalty and mutual agreement following the signing of a marriage contract. In Roman times, in fact, the right hand was considered sacred to the deity Fides, goddess of trust and good faith, therefore, it became a symbolic gesture that sanctioned the union of the spouses, even if it was not part of the actual wedding ceremony. This practice, known as dextrarum iunctio, originated from the need to verify –during a meeting– the absence of weapons, to prove peaceful intentions, a tradition that took root in the Roman social fabric until it became a symbol of marriage and more generally a symbol of formal pacts.