Archaeological Museum of Bologna

During the third century BC, in Campania and Lazio is stated a glyptics production strongly influenced on the one hand from the Magna Graecia workshops, on the other side by those Etruscans, still operating in close territories.

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Gems are eclectic in this period, they are influenced from different currents: the use of beetle is still lasting, especially in the etruscan tradition, and in the same time it comes the appreciation for oval extended stones with flat sides, in order to insert them in rings. The main material is sardonic stone, employed in stamp's production.  
In this gem a Muse is depicted: the goddess is nacked, with a cloak round her legs, her hair are tied on the head. Behind, there is a column and the figure support an object, perhaps a flute, on his right hand. That object identifies the Muse in Euterpe, music's protector.

Provenance: unknow
Datation: First half of 1st century BC
Material: sardonic stone with a burned part
Dimensions: mm 20 x 11,5 x 2
Inventory #: Gl 161