18th Century "Hercules" Scarab Swivel Ring
Heroes are the mortal offspring of gods. The prove their worth by daring and courageous deeds...
This remarkable 18th century swivel ring is set with a carved carnelian scarab that can rotate along its axis to reveal the intaglio underneath. An intaglio depicting the greatest of the Classical heroes: Hercules.
Hercules (aka Heracles or Herakles) is probably the best known hero of them all... the mortal son of Alkmene and Zeus, he murdered his family while afflicted by a madness induced by Hera (who had already tried to kill him as an infant by sending serpents to his crib... the baby, already showing superhuman strength, promptly strangled the two snakes, one in each hand).
The ring is heavy. Crafted in 18 carat gold, and built in the archaeological style; a recreation of a ring discovered during excavations of ancient sites in Egypt and Italy. The band flares out towards the shoulders where it's adorned with wound gold wire-work. A similar, ancient, example is currently on view in The Met.
When his head cleared and he realised what he'd done (to his family, not the snakes), the young lad was distraught with grief. He sought out Apollo, who told him the only way to atone for his crime was to seek out Eurystheos, the king of Mycenae, who would assign him seven tasks: the famous Labours of Herakles.
The carnelian scarab has a deep, earthy-red hue, and it too is based on an ancient design (a similar example portraying Herakles with the Nemean lion is currently on view at The Met; and another with the Arcadian stag). The intaglio carved in the base shows our hero, Hercules, in all his naked glory, carrying the Cretan Bull - father of the infamous Minotaur, the half-man half-bull who ended up confined in the Labyrinth. The scene is taken from the Seventh Labour of Hercules, as set by King Eurystheos as penance for killing his own family.
The first task was to kill a troublesome lion that was terrorising the folk of Nemea in the Peloponnesos. Eurystheos instructed Herakles to slay the beast, but his weapons were useless against the Nemean lion's impenetrable hide. Instead, he wrestled the lion to the ground, strangled it, and removed the creature’s tough hide with its own claws.
Eurystheos was somewhat surprised to see the hero return with the lion pelt slung over his shoulder, so proceeded to set him more-and-more dangerous and/or apparently impossible tasks: slay the Lernaean Hydra; capture Artemis's sacred deer, Hind of Keryneia (and thus incur the wrath of the goddess); capture the wild boar of Erymanthos; clear out the Augean Stables (in one day); purge the man-eating birds of Lake Stymphalia; and finally to capture the Cretan bull.
The bull, Eurystheos decided, was to be sacrificed in honour of Hera, who obviously refused the offering as it was a sign of Herakles's success, so the Mycenaean king set him an eighth labour (to return with the man-eating horses owned by the Thracian king Diomedes).
And then a ninth. And then a tenth... eleventh... and finally a twelfth.
The last was by far and away the most dangerous, the most impossible, requiring our weary hero to venture down to the underworld and return with Kerberos, the three-headed guard dog belonging to Hades himself. Which he naturally accomplished using nothing more than... brute strength. Can you even imagine what Hera must have thought?
Era: 18th Century, circa 1790
Ring size: M 1/2 or 6.5 US. Not resizable.
Head: 13.9mm by 20.5mm
Stone: Carnelian Agate
Marks: None, tested as 18ct gold
Condition: Great antique condition; a sizing strip has been added to the inner band at some point in the distant past.
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Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain)
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[Last updated: 28th February 2026]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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An inscription can be added inside the band, where space allows. Add 3-6 weeks to shipping times Add a note in the cart* with your desired size and/or inscription
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