Silver Neck Ring

Silver Neck Ring

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Neck rings, worn by both men and women, were often seen as symbols of divinity or high rank, while also offering protective powers. Ancient writers noted that the first-century Celtic queen Boudicca, who fought against the Romans in Britain, wore a gold neck ring in battle. Celtic artists often depicted deities wearing or holding such rings.

Medieval Art and The Cloisters

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world. Displayed in both The Met Fifth Avenue and in the Museum's branch in northern Manhattan, The Met Cloisters, the collection encompasses the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome in the fourth century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the early sixteenth century. It also includes pre-medieval European works of art created during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age.