Scarab (Impression)

On the underside of a cornelian scarab gem is engraved an image of Capne (Greek Kapaneus), the Argive hero. Holding a sword and shield, he is depicted as he falls with his hair streaming back behind him. Between his legs is a thunderbolt of Zeus, which pierces his thigh, and before him is the the ladder used to scale the walls of Thebes.The scarab has oblique corner winglets, with roughly marked feathers, and a plinth with a hatched upper edge. The gem is inscribed with a Latin name, Q VA, an abbreviation that can be expanded as Quintus Valerius or Valesius. Framed by a border that has worn away. The gem is mounted as a swivel ring on a gold hoop of twisted wire with attachment plates in the form of facing lion heads.