A sapphire ring that is thought to have belonged to Roman Emperor Caligula
The ring in this picture caused a splash when it was put up for auction a few years ago. The piece was famous not only because of its origins but also because it had been part of the famous Marlborough Gems, a series of carved gemstones and cameos amassed by the 4th Earl of Marlborough in the 1800s. The collection was sold off in 1899 and many gems are still missing.
The 2,000-year-old jewel is made out of a single piece of sapphire, one of the hardest stones in the world. This makes carving it a feat, and a portrait that delicate must have required a great amount of skill. The woman is believed to be Caesonia, Caligula’s fourth wife, who was reportedly so beautiful that the Emperor paraded her naked to his friends.