Antiquities Discussion Forums > Ancient and Medieval Finger Rings

Bird on signet ring (5)

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Rugser:
Other Roman rings

What bird  are these?
Idea ?
Thanks
ser

Podiceps:
Songbird signet rings (2): all depicted birds are different but clearly passerines with relatively long tails and some also have a rather heavy build for a songbird. The branches and some of the beaks indicate that the main idea is that they are songbirds - and for the Romans that signified the bountiful nature, on the top of just looking nice. The branch also disqualifies some relatively long-tailed birds such as the swallows. Therefore, I would focus on good singers and that still leaves a wide variety of candidates. As the rings are quite different, I might suggest different species for each depicted individual bird, but I guess you are not asking for a such list of species. In other words, I am not aware that any single bird species symbolised or had the monopoly for the idea of "songbird" for Romans and would, therefore, be represented in so many different forms in these rings. Anyway, I would be glad to hear other interpretations/ points of view or correction if I am mistaken.

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