The Hobbit ring that may have inspired Tolkien put on show
An ancient gold ring thought to have inspired JRR Tolkien to write The Hobbit is on display at a Tudor house.
The ring, which is inscribed in Latin, is being exhibited for the first time at The Vyne, in Hampshire. It was found in a farmer's field in Silchester in 1785. The ancient artefact is also inset with an image of the goddess Venus, and lay forgotten in the library of the National Trust property for several years. The ring has been linked to a curse tablet found at the site of a Roman temple dedicated to the god Nodens in Gloucestershire
It is believed that archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler asked for Tolkien's expertise in 1929 and that Tolkien repeatedly visited the temple.
The Lord of the Rings author was researching the story of the curse of a Roman ring for two years before starting on The hobbit.
Further detail also in this Yahoo article
The Vyne Ring Exhibition
The Vyne Ring Exhibition
There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound.
~Diana Cortes
~Diana Cortes
So we stopped by here on our vacation....basically, if you've read all the articles linked to above, then you've seen the exhibition! No Tolkien memorabilia as such, other than a signed copy of Famer Giles of Ham, and a DVD of LotR signed by Christopher Lee!
However, the Hobbit themed garden is worth a visit for the kids, or the child in you, and there's a neat Willow Smaug guarding the entrance...
However, the Hobbit themed garden is worth a visit for the kids, or the child in you, and there's a neat Willow Smaug guarding the entrance...
There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound.
~Diana Cortes
~Diana Cortes