Queen Theodora’s Ring

The ring of Queen Theodora, a masterpiece of the Serbian goldsmith’s trade, is not known to experts only, but to many other people as well. It was found in the grave of Tsarina Theodora, Tsar Dushan’s mother, who had died in October 1322 and had been buried in the monastery of Banjska. The grave was discovered in 1915, and two rings were found then – this one is in the National Museum now, and the other one, with a classical gem, in the possession of the family of the famous collector Ljuba Nedeljkovich.

The ring is cast in one piece (the type with a cylindrical, raised neck); it is richly ornamented, and on the flat round head there is an engraving presenting a two-headed eagle… On the neck of Theodora’s ring there is an inscription: “May God help the one who is wearing it.”