1,700-year-old gold ring depicting ancient goddess discovered in France, officials say

Archaeologists in France recently unearthed a 1,700-year-old ring engraved with an ancient religious motif.

The ornately decorated artifact was unearthed during an excavation in Pacé, a small town in Brittany, according to a Dec. 19 news release from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).

Specifically, archaeologists found the ring while digging up an ancient road, which likely provided access to a nearby settlement.

The well-preserved object is fashioned from gold and set with a dark-colored gemstone.

The stone is etched with a depiction of Venus Victrix — an epithet of Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty, love and sex.

“Venus Victrix was associated with victory in battle,” according to research from New York University. “Famously, Pompeius Magnus dedicated the temple in his theater to her during his first consulship.”

The ring dates to sometime between the second and third centuries A.D., making it between 1,700 and 1,800 years old.

A whole host of other artifacts — from a variety of different eras — were also uncovered during the excavation, officials said.

For example, pieces of vases and tools used to cast bronze objects were uncovered and linked to a nearby Late Bronze Age settlement.

A small, curved enclosure measuring about 50 feet in diameter was also unearthed. It is believed to be the remains of an early Iron Age burial circle.

Additionally, archaeologists found the remains of an early Middle Ages settlement that likely sprouted up between the fifth and 10th centuries A.D.

The settlement is composed of a patchwork of plots, some of which contained houses, while others were designated for agriculture or other specialized activities.

Google Translate was used to translate a news release from INRAP.

This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 3:25 PM with the headline "1,700-year-old gold ring depicting ancient goddess discovered in France, officials say."