Vulci (?)
late 6th cent. BC.
Gold and cornelian
height cm 1; width. cm 1.3; thickness cm 0.8
cat. 13174

Revolving pseudo-scarab inserted into a smooth gold ring. Engraved on the base of the scarab, with great care and elegance, is the handing over of the arms to Achilles by Thetis. The scarab has been attributed to an engraver of probable Greek-Oriental origin working in Etruria, conventionally called the "Master of the Boston Dionysos".
Due to the particular choice of heroic iconography, the ring must be related to a restricted aristocratic male environment, which loved to identify itself with the heroes of Greek mythology.