Ancient Slovak Castle Unearths 700-Year-Old Gold Ring—Sapphire’s Mysterious Journey from Sri Lanka Revealed!
Imagine finding a tiny masterpiece lost in time—a 700-year-old gold ring, no bigger than a trinket in your pocket, yet carrying a story that zipped across continents. This isn’t just any medieval bauble; it features an 18-karat gold band cradling a rare reddish-purple sapphire that came all the way from Sri Lanka, flanked by two regal lions—symbols screaming strength, courage, maybe even a dash of royal swagger. Picture a bishop, centuries ago, slipping this ring on as a badge of office, unaware that one day a treasure hunter poking around the ruins of Pustý hrad Castle in Slovakia would stumble upon it. What’s wild is how this little gem encapsulates the hustle and bustle of medieval trade routes, long before globalization was a buzzword. Makes you wonder—how did a gemstone from a tropical island end up ensconced on a gold finger so far from home? Curious? Intrigued? You’re not alone. LEARN MORE
Made in approximately 1300, the ring features an 18-karat gold band adorned with a reddish-purple Sri Lankan sapphire flanked by a pair of lions.
Noémi Beljak PažinováThe ring was originally found by a treasure hunter exploring the ruins of Pustý hrad Castle in 2001.
Some 700 years ago, someone left behind a ring at Pustý hrad Castle in central Slovakia. The gold ring, set with a rare reddish-purple sapphire, was lost for centuries before a treasure hunter stumbled upon it in 2001. Now, researchers have taken a close look at this stunning artifact, and made a surprising discovery: its stone comes all the way from Sri Lanka.
Not only is the ring itself a fascinating historical object, but it also provides an illuminating look at the thriving international trade that existed between Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages.
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