1904.35.47

Collection type

Object

Description

Bronze finger ring key, with bit at right angles to the ring. [El.B 22/05/2009]

Geographical reference

Egypt

Africa > Northern Africa > Egypt

Behnesa [el-Behnasa], Oxyrhynchus

Person

Field collector Bernard Pyne Grenfell

Field collector Arthur Surridge Hunt

PRM source Committee of the Egypt Exploration Fund

Date / Period

Archaeological period: Roman

Date collected

1903 - 1904

Acquisition information

Donated: 1904

Materials and processes

Material Bronze Metal, Process Forged (Metal)

Dimensions

Diameter: max 23 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1904.35.47

Research and responses

This object was examined by Dr Christina Riggs in March 2010 as part of the Fell funded project Characterizing the World Archaeology Collections. She described this piece as "a nice example of ‘skeleton’-type keys from the Roman Period, which are sometimes depicted in the hand of the god Anubis at this time, or around the necks of his associated animal, the jackal. The keys refer to his role as a guide to the underworld" [AS 31/03/2010]

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Online, Oxyrhynchus is best known for the numerous papyri uncovered there, first by B.P. Grenfell and A.S. Hunt (1897-1907). It is assumed that these are the field collectors referred to in the accession book entry. [CW 20/1/2000]

Associated publications

Listed under 'Pitt-Rivers [sic] Museum, Oxford' on page 240 of 'Appendix 1: Ring-keys data' in Roman Artefacts and Society: Design, Behaviour, and Experience, by Ellen Swift (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017). [JC 3 5 2017]

Search terms: Lock, Ornament, Key, Finger Ring