ID: 700000109 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700000109	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Engraved Scaraboid inset into a Ring (gem (worked stone); attributed to Epimenes (Greek, active ca. 500-480 BCE); ca. 500 BCE; J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, Los Angeles county, Calif...; 85.AN.370.6)

Note: Depicts a youth bending over to scrape his shin with a strigil (curved blade). After training, Greek athletes coated themselves in oil and used a strigil to scrape off the sweat, oil, and dirt. The pose of this figure, bending over in some activity, was a favorite for carved gems in the late 500s BCE. The shape of the gem is a scaraboid, a simplified scarab that developed out of the older beetle-shaped seal gems. Scaraboid gems were pierced and worn as a ring or pendant. When attached to a metal hoop and worn as a ring, the curved side faced out and the intaglio surface rested against the finger. When needed as a seal, the ring was removed, the gem swiveled, and the intaglio design was pressed into soft clay or wax to identify and secure property.

Titles:

Engraved Scaraboid inset into a Ring (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,U,U)

Youth Scraping His Leg with a Strigil (C,U,English,U,U)

Gem with an Athlete Cleaning Himself with a Strigil (C,U,English,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

gem (worked stone) [300011172] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Components (hierarchy name), components (objects parts), <components by specific context>, costume components, <jewelry and accessory components>)

scaraboid [300265272]

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Visual Works (hierarchy name), visual works (works), <visual works by material or technique>, sculpture (visual works), <sculpture by subject type>, scarabs (carvings))

Classifications:

jewelry / ornament (preferred)

Ancient Roman art

decorative arts

Creation Date: ca. 500 BCE

Creator Display:

attributed to Epimenes (Greek, active ca. 500-480 BCE) [preferred,VP]

carver Epimenes (Greek seal engraver, active ca. 500-480 BCE) Qualifier: attributed to [500074062]

Locations:

Current: J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, Los Angeles county, California, United States) [500115988] J. Paul Getty Trust, Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: 85.AN.370.6

Other: Creation: Kykládon, Nísoi [7229772] (Geographic)

Display Materials: polished obsidian, engraved, and intaglio; set in a modern gold ring

	obsidian [300011254]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, inorganic material, rock (inorganic material), igneous rock, <igneous rock by origin>, extrusive rock, pyroclastic rock, volcanic glass)

	engraving (action) [300053829]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <subtractive processes and techniques>)

	intaglio (sculpture technique) [300186231]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <object-making processes and techniques>, sculpting, sculpture techniques)

	polishing [300053867]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <finishing and refinishing processes>, finishing (process))

Dimensions: 17.3 x 13.2 x 6.4 mm (5/8 x 1/2 x 1/4 inches); 2 components, gem and setting; scarab-shaped

Cultures:

Roman (preferred)

Style/Period/Group/Movement:

	Roman (ancient Italian culture or period) [300020533] (preferred,N/A)
	.....(Styles and Periods Facet, Styles and Periods (hierarchy name), <styles| periods| and cultures by region>, Early Western World, Mediterranean (Early Western World), Ancient Italian)

General Subject:

human figures (preferred)

apparel (isness)

Specific Subjects:

	athlete [300236025]
	.....(Agents Facet, People (hierarchy name), people (agents), <people by activity>) (AAT)

	human males [300025928]
	.....(Agents Facet, People (hierarchy name), people (agents), <people by gender or sex>) (AAT)

	seal (artifact) [300028877]
	.....(Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Information Forms (hierarchy name), information forms (objects), information artifacts, <information artifacts by function>, identifying artifacts) (AAT)

	sacred scarabs (species) [300310682]
	.....(Agents Facet, Living Organisms (hierarchy name), living organisms (entities), Eukaryota (domain), Animalia (kingdom), Arthropoda (phylum), Hexapoda (subphylum), Insecta (class), Coleoptera (order), Scarabaeidae (family), Scarabaeus (genus)) (AAT)

	strigil [300343767]
	.....(Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Tools and Equipment (hierarchy name), equipment, <equipment by context>, personal equipment, Hygiene und Gesundheit Ausrüstung für Körperpflege) (AAT)

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: decorative and utilitarian works

Sources and Contributors:
Engraved Scaraboid inset into a Ring	........ [VP]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum, collections online (2000-)
Youth Scraping His Leg with a Strigil	........ [VP]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum, collections online (2000-)
Gem with an Athlete Cleaning Himself with a Strigil	........ [VP]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum, collections online (2000-)

Subject: ....... [VP]

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-) accessed 24 July 2005