Roman Carnelian Intaglio - Diomedes and Odysseus, Rape of the Palladium

Roman, Imperial period. A small oval carnelian intaglio engraved with the moment before the theft of the Palladium from Troy. Diomedes stands in profile to the right, wearing a helmet and gripping a spear. His shield rests on the ground in front of him. Across a central column stands a smaller Odysseus in a pointed cap, also holding a spear. The column likely stands for the sanctuary of Athena, where the two heroes plan to take the sacred image that protected the city. The figures are cut in quick, confident strokes with a drill and wheel. They are set into a warm translucent orange stone, which shows its colour best against the light. The stone was made to be set in a ring and pressed into wax or clay as a seal. It is engraved in reverse, so the scene reads correctly when impressed. The Palladium was an ancient wooden image of Pallas Athena that was said to have fallen from heaven onto Troy. An oracle declared that the city could not be taken while the image stayed inside its walls. So Diomedes and Odysseus slipped into Troy at night and carried it off, which opened the way for the city's fall. The episode is not told in Homer's Iliad. It comes from the lost poems of the Epic Cycle, especially the Little Iliad, and was retold by later writers, including Virgil. The theme was very popular with Roman gem engravers. One reason is that Rome claimed to own the Palladium itself. According to legend, Aeneas brought it to Italy, and it was kept in the Temple of Vesta as a guarantee of the city's survival. For a Roman, a seal showing the theft was linked to the founding myth of the state as well as to the Trojan War. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 205525

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