Ancient Carved Gems

Looking like a hoard of gems fit for an emperor’s collection, this deep sky object called NGC 6752 is in fact far more worthy of admiration. It is a globular cluster, and at over 10 billion years old is one the most ancient collections...

Online exhibition site includes video demonstration of gem-carving techniques, side-by-side comparison of intaglios and cameos, and examples of gemstones carved by ancient Greeks, some of which have been set into jewelry.

Online exhibition site includes video demonstration of gem-carving techniques, side-by-side comparison of intaglios and cameos, and examples of gemstones carved by ancient Greeks, some of which have been set into jewelry.

Online exhibition site includes video demonstration of gem-carving techniques, side-by-side comparison of intaglios and cameos, and examples of gemstones carved by ancient Greeks, some of which have been set into jewelry.

Online exhibition site includes video demonstration of gem-carving techniques, side-by-side comparison of intaglios and cameos, and examples of gemstones carved by ancient Greeks, some of which have been set into jewelry.

The crested Achilles was pressing on in his chariot." Some idea of the ancient crests may be formed from the following woodcuts, selected from ancient gems." - Anthon, 1891

A rudder. Before the invention of the rudder, which Pliny ascribes to Tiphys, the pilot of the ship Argo, vessels were both propelled and guided by oars alone. This circumstance may account for the form of the ancient rudder, as well as...

A biography of Rameses the Great, it gives information on his major achievements and whether he deserves the tile of "Great" or not.

In the Nile valley there had been found a few ancient inscriptions, carved upon stone in unknown characters, but no one could read them. The, about 1800 A.D., some soldiers of Napoleon in Egypt, while laying foundations for a fort, found...

Minerva is often represented on gems and coins, hurling the thunderbolts of Jove. The following cut, so representing her, is from a silver coin of Antigonus Gona as itself copied from an ancient statue. - Anthon, 1891