2nd-1st century BC. A substantial amethyst gemstone with intaglio with scene from the legend of Odysseus, showing Odysseus wearing a chiton and a pilos cap driving a team of two bulls, Telemachus as a small child beneath the necks of the oxen and the helmetted head and shoulders of the god Palamedes behind; set into a later gold ring. 6.07 grams, 22.56mm overall, 18.73mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16) (1"). Property of a North Lincolnshire collector; formerly in an old English jewellery collection; accompanied by an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no. 8793/07/12/2020. The ring represents an episode of the Trojan War. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, pretending to be mad to avoid to leaving his wife and son to join the Greek fleet, was driving a pair of oxen without stopping. Palamedes, an Achaean prince, placed Odysseus’ infant sonin the trajectory of the plough. Were Odysseus truly mad, Palamedes reasoned, he would not even stop in front of his son. Thanks to the goddess Athena, Odysseus was able to stop in time. Later, to take revenge, Odysseus had Palamedes accused of treason and stoned to death by the other Greeks.