Gemma Augustea

The Gemma Augustea is a cut semi-precious stone from the ancient Roman times. It consists of a two-layered Arabian onyx and is 19 x 23 cm in size. The version, a gold ring with ornamented breakthrough work on the back of the gem is German and was made in the 17th century. In the upper register of the two-part image field of the Emperor Augustus perched next to the personification of the Roma; he is crowned by the Oikumene. On the left side, his successor Tiberius rises from a car, which is directed by the goddess of victory, Victoria. In the lower field judge victorious Roman legionaries on a Tropaion ( Victory Monument ), subjected to "barbarians" watch the scene. The semi-precious stone was probably after 10 AD in the workshop that the stone cutter Dioscorides founded in Rome, made ​​. The Gemma Augustea is one of the corner stones of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna ( Inv. No. AS IXa 79).

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