Material: Sardonyx Shell, 18K gold tested .  Size: just over 2 3/8" by 2 2/32"  Date and Origin: Circa 1850/1860 Italy, frame could be English. Conditions: A couple of hairlines by origin, otherwise mint. More than Museum Quality and huge cameo depicting a Zeus, the King of Gods. This a more than rare cameo as the front face cameo are to find and especially one like this that is simply incredible. Look how the carver used the shell to evidence his face, the leaves and the eagle. This subject really jumps out from the shell,  this cameo seems just like a sculpture.  This is one of most beautiful Zeus I have ever seen, the pictures speak by themselves. The frame is spectacular too, so elaborate and wonderful. This is another masterly carved cameo. A very desirable collectors piece, rare and museum quality cameo. A Bit of History: Zeus  in Greek mythology is the king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus, and the god of the sky and thunder. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull and the oak. Zeus is frequently depicted by Greek artists in one of two poses: standing, striding forward, a thunderbolt  in his raised right hand, or seated in majesty. Zeus was the child of Cronus and Rhea, and the youngest of his siblings. In most traditions he was married to Hera, although at the oracle of Dodona his consort was Dione: according to the Iliad, he is the father of Aphrodite by Dione. He is known for his erotic escapades, including one pederastic relationship with Ganymede. These resulted in many famous offspring, including Athena, Apollo and Artemis, Hermes, Persephone (by Demeter), Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen, Minos, and the Muses (by Mnemosyne); by Hera he is usually said to have fathered Ares, Hebe and Hephaestus.His Roman counterpart was Jupiter.