Ancient Slovak Castle Unearths 700-Year-Old Gold Ring—Sapphire’s Mysterious Journey from Sri Lanka Revealed!
But while the ring is a stunning historical object, its origins make it all the more valuable. Researchers suspect that its unusual purplish sapphire traveled a long distance to Slovakia, and originally came from Sri Lanka.
The Sapphire From Sri Lanka And The Questions That Remain
After studying the ring, the researchers surmised that its gemstone had once traveled some 4,500 miles, from Sri Lanka to Slovakia. Sri Lanka has a long history of sapphire trading. Still active today, the Sri Lankan sapphire trade provided these precious gems to Europeans even during Roman times.
ŠJů/Wikimedia CommonsThe ring was found amid the ruins of a castle in Zvolen, Slovakia.
Still, the gem’s origins aside, questions remain about this astonishing medieval ring. Researchers aren’t sure exactly who once owned the ring, and they’re not sure how it was lost.
What is known is that the ring was found by chance within a courtyard at Pustý hrad Castle in Zvolen, a prominent royal castle built in the 12th century. The site served as the administrative center of Zvolen County for centuries, but fell into disuse in the 15th century. The castle was abandoned and then largely destroyed by a fire during a military seige in 1452.
Public DomainThe entry gate of Pustý hrad Castle, now in ruins.
As such, this tiny gold ring found by chance amid the ruins of a medieval castle fits into a dramatic vein of Eastern European history. Meanwhile, it’s also a unique symbol of the thriving trade relations that existed between Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages.
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