A Persian Banded Agate Cabochon set as a ring, Achaemenid Empire, ca. 550 - 330 BCE Sculpture - Architectural believed to ward off harm

believed to ward off harm and preserve what was most valued

and luminous materials

2014 - MAY 10

A shallow rim chip and a partially restored hair line in the rim

A Persian Banded Agate Cabochon set as a ring, Achaemenid Empire, ca. 550 - 330 BCE Sculpture - Architectural believed to ward off harmThis lovely ring centers on an ancient banded agate cabochon dating to the Achaemenid period. The stone is cut as a high dome and polished to a smooth finish, its natural concentric layers in dark gray and white forming a pronounced eye motif. Across the Persian world, such stones were prized not only for their visual appeal but also for their protective associations. Ancient sources and later traditions describe agate as a powerful talisman. Warriors