3rd-4th century AD. A gold finger ring with raised boss to the bezel with intaglio bust of Sol (Greek Helios) wearing a radiate crown. Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 425, for type.13.85 grams, 27.81mm overall, 21.29mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8) (1"). From a London gentleman, formerly in a Swiss collection 1990s; accompanied by an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no. 170481/07/12/2020; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10522-170481. Sol (also Helius or Helios) was the god of the sun in Graeco-Roman mythology. He was thought to ride a golden chariot which brought the sun across the skies each day from the east (Ethiopia) to the west (Hesperides) while at night he did the return journey in a leisurely fashion. His cult was elevated to the rank of state religion by the Emperor Aurelian, on December 25th, 274 AD. The official state cult to Sol Invictus (or Helios Megistos, 'Great Helios') competed with the new Christian religion until the reign of Constantine the Great. This is why in late antiquity many personal objects like rings, necklaces, medallions, showed the image of Sol Invictus with the radiate crown. [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]