Did This Cursed Ring Inspire J.R.R. Tolkien?

In the 1700s, a farmer plowing his fields near the English town of Silchester uncovered a very large gold ring dating back to Roman times, inscribed with the name “Senecianus.” Seventy miles away, in the remains of an old Roman temple complex, a curse tablet was discovered targeting a man named Senecianus who made off with a ring. Coincidence? 

Another possible coincidence: one of the academic experts brought in to the excavation of the Roman temple site was J.R.R. Tolkien – who later became famous as the author of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” which involve, of course, a cursed ring.  

Related Atlas entries:

• The Vyne, the English country house that is home to the ring https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-vyne
• Lydney Camp, the remains of the Roman temple where the curse tablet was found https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lydney-camp
• If you’re into this whole curse table thing, we recommend an older episode of the show about the Complaint Tablet of Ea-Nasir

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