A solid gold ring with an incised bezel of a rampant lion Kerala, India, 7th-12th century | 印度喀拉拉邦 七至十二世紀 獅子紋金戒指

Property from an Asian private collection

A solid gold ring with an incised bezel of a rampant lion

Kerala, India, 7th-12th century

亞洲私人收藏

印度喀拉拉邦 七至十二世紀 獅子紋金戒指

The iconography of the lion is very powerful in Indian culture, regarded as a symbol of courage and wealth. This ring was almost certainly worn as a blessing of fortune. Cultural depictions of the lion in Hindu and Buddhist art of India would be found in the iconography of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, power, and prosperity. Religious texts such as the Skunda Purana, Lakshmi Tantra, Markandeva Purana, Devi Mahatmya, and Vedic scriptures commonly describe her to be sitting on a lion as her vahanam, or holy mount. 

The ring being made of solid gold further associates it with the goddess Lakshmi. For instance, the iconography of the goddess often depicts her wearing gold or having a golden complexion. 

d. 1.8 cm; 4.71 grams