Finger Ring with Busts of Serapis and Isis
| Culture | Greek or Roman |
|---|---|
| Title | Finger Ring with Busts of Serapis and Isis |
| Date | 100 BCE–100 CE |
| Medium | Gold |
| Dimensions | Weight: 0.02 lb. Overall: 13/16 × 5/8 in. (2.1 × 1.7 cm) |
| Credit Line | Burton Y. Berry Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 76.72.6 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A gold ring made of a heavy, rounded wire hoop that is joined by forming two small loops from which two busts rise. Both figures wear elaborate garments. One is bearded with a basket-shaped headdress, and the other wears a feather headdress and has locks of hair that fall to her shoulders.
The last Ptolemaic ruler, Cleopatra VII, and her consort, Mark Antony, were defeated decisively by Octavian (who later became the first Roman emperor, Augustus) in 31 BCE. This victory resulted in the annexation of Egypt by Rome, accompanied by an influx of Egyptians in the capital city. Rome was gripped by a fascination with Egyptian culture, including its religions.
The cults of Serapis and Isis were particularly popular, in part because they were simultaneously familiar, due to their earlier Hellenization, and exotic. Temples and shrines to Serapis and to Isis were established across Roman Italy. The Temple of Isis at Pompeii is the best-known surviving example.
This gold ring exemplifies both the joint worship of Serapis and Isis and the popularity of the cult with the elite class.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Finger Ring with Busts of Serapis and Isis | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=76.72.6