A unique gold ring with the image of a two-faced god was found in Poland. PHOTO

A unique gold ring with the image of a two-faced god was found in Poland.  PHOTO

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A gold ring with an unusual design, probably from the 11th or 12th century, was discovered in the Wawel Royal Castle – the former residence of the Polish kings in Krakow.

This is the only exhibit of its kind found on the territory of Poland, writes Arkeonews.

Scientists note that the image on the ring does not correspond to traditional Christian symbolism, which is usually seen on artifacts of that era.

The ring is decorated with the image of a shield with two opposite faces, which may be a “reference” to Janus – the two-faced Roman god – and indicate a high level of local craftsmanship. Janus was considered the patron of beginnings and ends, entrances and exits, changes, etc.

Photo: Royal Castle on Wawel

The find has a thickness of 1.5 mm, its diameter is 4 mm, and its circumference is 57 mm.

Only a few early medieval gold rings have been found in Poland, but without ornaments or with simple geometric patterns.

This makes the latest find “unique,” says researcher Jerzy Tshebinski.

He also believes that the ring was probably a local product and may have belonged to the elite under the leadership of the Piasts, the first dynasty of Poland, which ruled from the foundation of the state in the 10th century until the 14th century. The shape of the ring is typical for that era in Poland.

Archaeologists discovered the find in the basement of the Danish Tower (Wieża Duńska), one of the four residential towers of the castle. King Władysław II Jagailo ordered its construction at the end of the 14th – the beginning of the 15th century as part of the reconstruction of the already existing tower. The facade was completed in the 16th century.

Read also: In Italy, archaeologists discovered a tomb that is about 2,600 years old: what they found. PHOTO

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