Home / Arts and Entertainment / Detectorist Unearths Queen Elizabeth I's Phoenix Ring
Detectorist Unearths Queen Elizabeth I's Phoenix Ring
16 Jul
Summary
- A gold signet ring linked to Queen Elizabeth I was found.
- The ring features an engraving of a phoenix, a symbol adopted by the queen.
- It was discovered in Ampthill, a former royal hunting ground.
A remarkable gold signet ring, potentially belonging to Queen Elizabeth I, has surfaced and is now displayed at Hampton Court Palace. Discovered by a metal detectorist in Ampthill, a site historically significant as a royal hunting ground, the ring dates back to the 1570s.
The artifact bears an engraving of a phoenix rising from flames. This emblem was notably adopted by Queen Elizabeth I in memory of her mother, Anne Boleyn, after a poem likened them. Courtiers later adopted the symbol as a sign of their loyalty to the queen.
The ring's discovery near the former Ampthill Castle, where Catherine of Aragon was once detained, adds further historical depth. Experts from Historic Royal Palaces acquired the ring, emphasizing its rarity and the intriguing questions it raises about its original owner.
This treasure is exhibited alongside another ring associated with Anne Boleyn's family. The find provides a unique glimpse into the personal symbols and courtly life of the Elizabethan era.
