Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Along the Appian Way (Premium)

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hi, Thomas here. You're listening to a preview episode. You can enjoy the entire story tonight by subscribing to our supporters' feed. There you'll get access to the entire back catalogue, bonus episodes, and more, and it's all completely ad-free. Click the link below to learn more and thank you so so much. Me and the team really appreciate your support. The shop has big glass windows filled with sparkling displays. And above the door is the old sign that simply reads, Jury. You open the door and step inside.

Starting point is 00:01:02 Countless cases and shelves line every wall. It's dimly lit, but you can see some of the items of jewelry in the glass display case nearest to you. There are hundreds of silver rings lined up in neat rows. Some thick, some thin, some have brightly coloured gemstones, while others are decorated with symbols. You've been here before, but there's always something new to look at. And a new story to hear. The shop owner, Adele, comes over to greet you.

Starting point is 00:01:57 She's just prepared a part of your favourite tea. You sit down in the plush comfortable armchair, take the cup of tea from the tray and breathe in deeply. It's still too hot to drink, but the scent alone is enough to relax you. Adele noticed you admiring the rings and has a new one to show you. As she goes to fetch it from behind the counter, she explains that it's not exactly new. It's actually an old find discovered by her grandfather many years ago. She thought it was lost forever, until it turned up unexpectedly in a drawer. The ring is inside a black velvet pouch. Adele empties it into your hand and you fill the cool, solid weight of the ring. It's a thin band of gold, so thin and small that it would barely fit on

Starting point is 00:03:19 your little finger. In the middle there's a small circle of scarlet, opaque rock, a material known as Jasper. Holding the ring up to the light, you can just make out the details of the carving. There's an image of a young man with curly hair, surrounded by ivy leaves. This kind of ring is known as an interleo ring, Adal explains. They were worn by wealthy, influential businessmen in the Roman Empire, and used to authenticate documents. The businessman would stamp the ring into a hot wax seal. The stone was difficult to carve and the more intricate the design, the harder it was to imitate. You could tell a lot about someone's status by their ring.

Starting point is 00:04:33 The ring you're holding now is beautifully designed. Every line of the young man's hair is perfectly carved into the rock, in flawless miniature. The ring must have belonged to a very important person. A deli explains that although the ring was found in Rome and is in the ancient Roman style, it's not as ancient as it appears. There was a fashion for these kinds of rings in the Renaissance. The one you're holding now is a replica. You can tell whether the ring is an ancient original or a Renaissance replica by X-ray

Starting point is 00:05:22 analysis. But some experts check by testing the ring's original function. Press the ring into hot wax and then onto a piece of paper. Even if the stone doesn't look that impressive, if it's a Roman original, it will create a seal with magnificent detail. The particular ring you're holding right now is most likely Victorian. This style of jewelry came into fashion again in the 19th century. During this era of travel and exploration, many people favored Jury inspired by ancient Rome, as well as Egyptian and Etruscan designs. But even if the ring is not as old as it seems, it's a beautiful object, and Adele is

Starting point is 00:06:28 fond of the story behind it. It brings back memories of her grandfather, and his stories of a wonderful holiday many years ago. you.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Along the Appian Way (Premium)

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.