Vtere Felix Inscribed Rings Discovered in Roman Dacia
Inele cu inscripţia VTERE FELIX descoperite în Dacia romană

Summary/Abstract: Among the inscribed jewellery discovered in Roman Dacia count also the rings decorated with the phrase VTERE FELIX, most identified in military or army related contexts, at Resculum – Bologa (1), Potaissa – Turda (3) and Aquae – Cioroiu Nou (1), to which add two examples found in burial contexts at Sucidava (1) and Dierna – Orşova (1). From the seven pieces discussed herein, three are worked of gold, other three are silver-made and one is in bronze. The inscription was incised on the bezel or ring body, beside the short or even complete versions of the phrase being also present two names, that of Valerius at Potaissa and Caeserius at Dierna. Although according to part of bibliography, rings in this class were assumed to conceal a most certain affiliation to Christianity, we believe they may be the exponents of a fashion trend that originated in the military environment, which later diffused in that civilian, where among others, it was also used to decorate jewellery. In Dacia, such rings start to emerge most surely from the end of the 2nd century AD, peaking in circulation during the first half of the 3rd century AD, in use, on the decreasing slope of the curve, until the 4th century AD. Due to the find context, we believe they were used by soldiers or civilians in connection with the army, without yet further dismissing the possibility that in part, they were also used as signet rings.

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