Engraved Gem with Apollo

With his wavy hair cascading over a headband, the face of Apollo--the god of youth, music, and prophecy--is carved into the surface of this large amethyst. His portrait is presented in full profile. Apollo's features are idealized, as was typical in art of the early Roman Empire: a square face with broad cheeks, a round chin, and a remarkably straight nose.This gem closely resembles other images of Apollo, but the artist might also have sought to evoke Augustus. Solon carved other images of Augustus and members of the Imperial family in the guise of deities, and this gem may provide a further example. Augustus's patron god was Apollo, and he believed the god secured victory for his forces in the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C:

The gold mount was added to the gem, probably during the late nineteenth century. Formerly in the collection of the Comtesse de Béarn (1870-1930), the gem was displayed at an exhibition in London in 1903-04.