In A Castle In Poland, Archeologists Recently Discovered An Extremely Rare Ornate Medieval Gold Ring Featuring An Engraving Of Two Human-Like Faces
In a castle in Poland, archaeologists stumbled across an ornate medieval gold ring. It featured an intricate engraving of two human-like faces positioned opposite each other.
The artifact was an exceptionally rare find because rings found in Poland from the medieval period were usually devoid of decoration.
A researcher named Jerzy Trzebiński discovered the ancient piece of jewelry during ongoing investigations at Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, which is the second largest city in Poland. The city is located in southern Poland and sits near the border of the Czech Republic.
It dates back to the seventh century and is known for its well-preserved medieval structures. Throughout the 14th century, it served as an economic and political center in Poland. It was also an important trading point between England and Hungary.
The gold ring was in the basement of the Danish Tower—one of the castle’s four towers. The castle is part of a fortified medieval complex and is situated atop Wawel Hill on the Vistula River’s left bank.
The complex has a rich historical background and is considered the most culturally significant site in the entire country since it contains several major buildings, such as the castle and Wawel Cathedral.
The cathedral was erected nearly 1,000 years ago and functioned as the coronation site of Polish monarchs.
The construction of the castle started sometime during the 13th or 14th centuries, but additions were made over time. For centuries, the castle was home to a number of Polish kings.
Currently, it is an iconic symbol of Poland and a popular art museum frequented by tourists. It boasts works of contemporary art, as well as traditional statues and a priceless collection of 16th-century tapestries.
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Within the castle, archaeologists unearthed the gold jewelry from the remains of a stone structure, which seemed to have been some kind of fortification.
The ring is thought to date back to the 11th or 12th centuries. It’s the only example of an early medieval ring in Poland that is decorated with human images.
Experts noted that the engraving of two opposing faces lacked a connection to Christianity, which began to be embraced in Poland during the 10th century.
Instead, it is believed that the ornamentation might be a reference to Janus, a two-faced god from Roman mythology.
The craftsmanship of the artifact resembled other finds from the Polish region, so it was likely that it was made locally. The ring appeared to have belonged to a member of the Piasts, particularly a woman.
The Piasts were the first ruling dynasty of Poland and led the country between the 10th and 14th centuries. Their royal rule came to an end in 1370 after the death of Casimir III the Great.
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