MYSTERIOUS RING WITH THE HEAD OF THE DEvil (Identification of finds)

Sometimes amazing metamorphoses occur with artifacts found by instrument search enthusiasts. And hypotheses about the origin and dating of these objects sometimes excite the minds of sensation hunters so much that one is simply amazed. And this time the same thing happened..

In the spring of 2016, there was a rumor among treasure hunters in the Ryazan region that a unique mystical ancient ring had been found on the territory of the Rybnovsky district near the village of Vakino, the rarity of which can only be spoken of in a whisper.

In 2017, I was able to communicate with eyewitnesses of those events. And in the end, after much wandering, this find was kindly presented to me for review. It was alleged that this ring was shown earlier to archaeologists, who could not say anything intelligible about it.

Now let's talk about everything in order.

And so, indeed, a group of young and very purposeful guys decided one day to go out into nature and wander around with metal detectors. We decided to make a road and a field along the oak grove between the village of Vakino and the Romanovsky settlement. After some time, one of the diggers was lucky enough to pick up our mysterious ring somewhere there.

ROMANOVSKOYE FORTELOGY

Separately, it is worth talking about the Romanovsky settlement, where embankments are still preserved. It is located 3 km from the village of Vakino.

View of the Romanovskoye settlement (Rybnovsky district, Ryazan region)

According to local legends, the city of Romanov once existed here. This city, apparently belonging to the fortified points along the old Oka highway from Moscow to Ryazan, was built by the Ryazan prince Roman Glebovich, from whom it took its name. Roman, as you know, had a special need to protect the indicated tract from the Suzdal people, with whom he had been fighting all his life. In the charter of the sister of Prince Ivan III, Grand Duchess Anna Vasilievna of Ryazan (1464–1483), the city of Romanov is mentioned as its palace parish. Later, according to the salary book of 1676, it is already listed as a village. According to popular legend, the Romanovo settlement was completely deserted because its inhabitants were transferred to the Yaroslavl province to the city of Romanov-Borisoglebsk. By the way, the Romanov settlement is an archaeological site.

The semicircular (200 x 120 m) site of the settlement is surrounded by three lines of ramparts and ditches, and its northwestern edge rests on the steep bank of the Oka River. The monument was repeatedly examined by archaeologists (V.A. Gorodtsov, P.P. Efimenko, V.I. Zubkov). Small excavations were carried out by A.L. Mongait. It turned out that the high hill, separated from the main territory of the settlement by a deep ditch, is an Iron Age fortification. The deposits of Old Russian times on it are insignificant. In addition to fragments of pottery, during excavations by archaeologists at the site, various metal objects, seven-lobed temple rings, beads, a silver bowl, a cross, a dish, etc. were found. A cemetery of the 12th – 13th centuries was discovered. Judging by archaeological data, the fortifications were erected in the 12th century. You can get to the ancient settlement by driving along the Oka River to the west from the village of Vakino, or by walking from the Slyoma station. Here, near the steep bank of the Oka, two ramparts have been preserved, separated by two ditches, encircling a small toe like a horseshoe. The steep slope of the Oka River is intensively destroyed by landslides. Between the settlement and the village of Vakino, an ancient oak grove has been preserved, which in 2003 received the status of a natural monument by Decree of the administration of the Ryazan region.

DESCRIPTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIND

Considering such an ancient area with a rich historical past, a strong opinion was immediately formed that the dating of the found ring certainly belonged to that distant time. Although from the companion there was only a female pectoral cross “Leaf” from the 19th century.

A ring with the head of a devil, found in the spring of 2016 in the Rybnovsky district of the Ryazan region near the village of Vakino A ring with the head of a devil, found in the spring of 2016 in the Rybnovsky district of the Ryazan region near the village of Vakino A ring with the head of a devil, found in the spring of 2016 in the Rybnovsky district of the Ryazan region near the village of Vakino
A ring with the head of a devil, found in the spring of 2016 in the Rybnovsky district of the Ryazan region near the village of Vakino A ring with the head of a devil, found in the spring of 2016 in the Rybnovsky district of the Ryazan region near the village of Vakino

The mysterious ring looked like this:

On the shield is the face of a demonic creature (Devil or Mephistopheles) with a Euryan type of face with a wide, good-natured smile, ready to embrace you. Underdeveloped horns rise from the devilish frontal bone. A wedge-shaped beard is visible on the mandibular bone, and the nose is flattened. The ears apparently were inherited from the demon father, who is of elven origin. An aggressive-looking dragon attacks him from the side with his mouth open. Metal: silver, with a touch of black patina. Losses: the left part of the ring with the second dragon is missing, there is a deep groove from a sharp object (possibly from a shovel) on the forehead of the devil-like creature’s head.

However, unfortunately, there was nothing ancient or mysterious in the found object.

Judging by the existing mark of the master, this is a ring from the second half of the 19th century. Made in the village of Krasnoye (now the village of Krasnaya Pakhra, Moscow region). In the scientific community, it even has a specific name “Nosferatu with dragons” or “Mephistopheles with dragons”. Exactly the same one, by the way, was found in March 2017 not far from that same Krasnaya Pakhra, but without any losses. So the ring is not particularly rare, but it is not common either. It’s difficult to call it unique, but the find is certainly quite interesting.

Twin brother. A ring with the head of a devil, found in March 2017 not far from the village of Krasnaya Pakhra, Moscow region Twin brother. A ring with the head of a devil, found in March 2017 not far from the village of Krasnaya Pakhra, Moscow region Twin brother. A ring with the head of a devil, found in March 2017 not far from the village of Krasnaya Pakhra, Moscow region

The fact is that in the era of late imperialism (the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries), a passion for secret societies was popular among young ladies of noble origin. In Tsarist Russia, young people from high society, usually unemployed and living on someone else's fortune, spent their time in frivolous ventures. Out of idleness, not knowing what to do with themselves, they joined sects and attended demonic events such as witches' sabbaths and various themed carnivals. It was very fashionable then. It was precisely at these events that it was customary to wear such special rings with the image of Mephistopheles.

The ring may have different variations. For example, instead of dragons there are bat wings or just some patterns. Only the head of a demonic creature with a sly smile remains unchanged.

Common types of devil's head rings Common types of devil's head rings Common types of devil's head rings

Perhaps similar finds were found in Europe, but I know nothing about such cases. But on the territory of Ukraine, they most often find a slightly modified “Mephistopheles” with inserted red stone eyes. However, in Russia these specimens are also sometimes found.

DETERMINATION OF COST

An auction of a similar ring without loss on the ReviewDetector website in 2017 showed a final result of 1,500 rubles. The cost of our copy, taking into account the absence of the left part of the ring and the groove from a sharp object on the forehead of the head of the fiend, is no more than 1000 rubles.

Author of the article: Denis Shibaev (StareC)

June 09, 2018