Brooklyn Museum: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art: Ring of Ramesses IV

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Ring of Ramesses IV

All three of these rings probably belonged to nobility or other private persons, not to royalty, The small bronze signet ring has the prenomen, or throne name, of Ramesses II. The scarab ring lacks his prenomen but has an associated epithet ("Beloved Of Amun") and his nomen, or birth name (Ramesses).

On the large silver-tin alloy signet ring the prenomen of Ramesses IV appears—Hekama'at-re' ("Re Is the Ruler of Ma'at"). In the lower half are several hieroglyphs—djed("stability"), hes ("praise"), and hetep ("peace" or "satisfaction")—that probably serve a decorative or amuletic function because they do not comprise a logical text. Likewise, the semi-hemispherical nb hieroglyph at the bottom was probably employed simply because its shape conveniently fit the oval.

Medium: Silver
Place Found: Egypt
Dates: ca. 1152-1145 B.C.E.
Dynasty: XX Dynasty
Period: New Kingdom
Dimensions: 7/8in. (2.3cm)
Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art
Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
Accession Number: 37.727E
Credit Line: Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Image: Overall, 37.727E_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph