Designed as an oval sardonyx, finely engraved to one side with a scene from the mythological tale of Pan and Psyche, 19th Century, engraver unknown. Dimensions 28.5mm x 20mm x 4.5mm

Note: An episode in the mythological tale of Psyche and Eros (originally a Greek legend) which is a smaller tale within Metamorphoses (the only Latin novel to survive in its entirety) published in the 2nd Century AD by Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis...Pan discovers Psyche desolate and contemplating suicide on the banks of a river and recognises in her the agonies of love.

Psyche has just unveiled the face of her secret husband who visited her at night but asked her never to look upon him and was always gone by morning...thinking him a horrid monster and driven to kill him by her jealous sisters (even whilst presumed a monster he was a generous one and she lived in luxury - jewels included), she discovers instead the beautiful face of the god of love - Cupid...however her subterfuge in this discovery causes him to flee and she finds herself alone and desperate...Pan comforts her...convinces her that rather than killing herself in anguish she would be better to pray to her god of love and dedicated her life to him.

Allegorically there are many meanings attached to the tale, as a follower of Platonism and mystery religions (worth a google) it’s a mishmash of many concepts...and no less beautiful as a consequence...and fear not, it has a happy ending and there are even some aggressive sheep and some friendly ants along the way!