Find Spot record MDO4398 - Finger ring found near Weatherby Castle, Milborne St Andrew

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1987, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1986, 190 (Serial). SDO86.

'A MEDIEVAL TALISMANIC RING. Found in July 1985 at Manor Farm, Milborne St Andrew by Mr K. Farnham in a field close to Wetherby hill-fort (SY 8980459637)[sic]: a silver finger-ring, band 3 mm tall, 1 mm thick with internal diameter 165 mm. The band is engraved on the outside with the initial letters A + G + L + A, each letter engraved backwards. The Roman letters are the initial characters of the Hebrew words 'Atha Gebir Leilam Adonai', 'Thou art Great for ever, O Lord'. These words occur as a charm against fevers (See G. Stephens, 'Extracts in Prose and Verse from an Old English Medical Manuscript, preserved in the Royal Library at Stockholm', Archaeologica, 30 (1884), 400. The letters are found frequently on personal ornaments, particularly rings and brooches, and are found als on larger objects csuch as the wax discs used by Dr Dee (1527-1608)(Proc. Soc. Antiq. London, Second Series, 21 (1905-7), 382). Rings with this charm are in the British Museum (O. M. Dalton, Catalogue of the Finger Rings …. (1912), nos: 866 (gold), 868 (gold), 869 (silver)). A gold one was found in a garden at Newark c. 1751 (Arch. Journ., 3 (1846), 359). See also C W. King, 'Talismans and Amulets, Medieval Talismans', Arch. Journ., 26 (1869), 229. This ring is probably 15th century in date.'

Record last edited

Nov 14 2023 3:12PM