100-200 AD. Roman. A rare bronze ring with a circular hoop and round plate bezel bearing an engraved scene of a lion (left) attacking a falling human (right). Under the Roman empire, Damnatio ad bestias (“condemnation to the beasts”) was a form of capital punishment in which people were killed by wild animals, usually lions. Damnatio ad bestias was commonly used to put Christians to death in the amphitheatre, and many Christian texts expressed pride at the bravery with which their coreligionists faced this terrifying fate. This exceptional item probably belonged to an ancient Christian. Good condition; beautiful patina. Size: D: 15.8mm / US: 5 1/8 / UK: K; 5g; Provenance: From an old British collection, acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s.