Roman Iron Rings for Deities

Roman iron rings, wrought with much care and having precious stones, but minute enough for a child, have been found. One or two of them are mentioned and illustrated in Caylus, who, no doubt rightly, considers they were intended for the finger of a domestic deity or household god.

The Romans clung to their home deities; and this is the best part of their character. One of the most beautiful of the antique draped figures, cut upon a signet, represents a woman contemplating a household god (see image), "a symbol of that domestic affection which the ancients, exalted almost blamelessly, into an object of divine homage."

It was on this particular gem that Croly wrote these charming lines:

"Domestic love! not in proud palace halls

Is often seen thy beauty to abide;

Thy dwelling is in lowly cottage walls,

That in the thickets of the woodbine hide;

With hum of bees around, and from the spring,

Shining along thro' banks with harebells dyed;

And many a bird to warble on the wing,

When morn her saffron robe o'er heaven and earth doth fling.

O! love of loves!--to thy white hand is given

Of earthly happiness the golden key!

"Thine are the joyous hours of winter's even,

When the babes cling around their father's knee;

And thine the voice that, on the midnight sea,

Melts the rude mariner with thoughts of home,

Peopling the gloom with all he longs to see.

Spirit! I've built a shrine; and thou hast come;