This 2,000-year-old sapphire ring is thought to have belonged to
Caligula, the notoriously tyrannical ancient Roman emperor who ruled from 37 CE. But his reign was cut short after four years when he was assassinated by his own Praetorian Guards. The portrait on the ring appears to be Caligula’s fourth—and last—wife, Caesonia. Roman historian Suetonius
described her as “a woman of reckless extravagance and wantonness” and even claimed that she gave birth to their daughter on their wedding day.
Caligula and Caesonia had a passionate affair and its said that he even occasionally showed her off, naked, to friends. With such a fiery relationship, it’s no wonder that the emperor would want her portrait on his ring. Alas, their love wouldn’t last, with Caesonia—and her daughter—being murdered just hours after Caligula was killed.
An ancient Roman golden sard carved with a rare portrait of Mark Antony, who is famous for his love affair with Cleopatra.