On 11 August 1962, near Derveni, south of ancient Lete, the so-called "Tomb Z" was discovered, the smallest in size (1.10 x 0.86 m.) and the simplest in shape (the only pit grave) of a series of seven rich tombs known in international literature as the "The Derveni Tombs".
"Tomb Z" was found unlooted; it was plastered and probably painted inside, and had been used –according to the excavators– for the cremated remains of a woman and probably also of a man. The grave goods, which were uncovered in their original place inside the tomb, comprised many vessels, mostly made of bronze, and eleven items of gold jewellery gathered in the middle of the tomb, at the eastern side of the pit. The number and nature of the grave goods indicate that the deceased of “Tomb Z” were members of the local elite, as were all those buried in the other tombs of Derveni. However, two elements distinguish “Tomb Z” and its occupants: its small size and simple type (a pit grave), as well as the fact that it is the only one among the Derveni tombs, into which all the jewellery were placed in used condition.
Among these jewels, a solid gold finger ring (inv. no. Z 9) stands out for the simplicity of its form and the presence of a dedicatory inscription on its bezel. It consists of the hoop and a flat elliptical bezel (2.1 x 1.8 cm) which bears the inscription ΚΛΕΙΤΑΙΔΩΡΟΝ. The word δώρον and the inscription of the feminine name Kleita in the dative case indicate that the ring was a gift to Kleita, most probably the deceased of “Tomb Z”, who may have been of Thessalian origin, since this female name was common in Pelasgiotis (Larisa) in Thessaly.
A few solid gold finger rings of similar type, with an oval bezel but uninscribed, have been discovered in other sites too (e.g. Lete, Nikisiani, Pydna), suggesting that this type of ring was in fashion in Macedonia in the second half of the 4th century BC, but not particularly widespread. Similar finger rings are also known from Tarantine burials and from the northern Black Sea region. In addition, most of the known rings with dedicatory inscriptions date also from the 4th century BC, with the exception of the gold ring with the inscription ΔΩΡΟΝ from the archaic cemetery of Sindos, which is one of the earliest examples of this type (early 5th century BC), and which is also exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
The gold finger ring Z 9 had been in use for a long time before being placed in the tomb in order to accompany Kleita to her final resting place. This is evidenced by the clear use-wear traces on the ring: the worn off gold material, its deformed shape, and the large quantity of scratches on its surface. This means that the ring’s manufacturing preceded the date of the funeral by decades, with its typological features suggesting a possible date for the ring around 350-325 BC; in used condition it was then placed in “Tomb Z”, which is dated to 300-280 BC.
There is no doubt that the gold solid finger ring was a gift for Kleita. But had it been offered to her during her lifetime? Did she see it shining on her finger and slowly wearing away? Or did it originally belong to someone else, a relative or a friend, who engraved the inscription on the ring’s bezel after her death and placed it in her grave as a 'silent' gift on the day of her funeral?
The answer to this question may lie in the tiny scratches on the ring’s bezel: these scratches are cut through by the engraved lines of the inscription’s letters. Therefore, the inscription ΚΛΕΙΤΑΙΔΩΡΟΝ is later than the damages of the ring, and may have been engraved on it not long before Kleita’s funeral.
The gold inscribed finger ring (Z 9) is currently on loan to the temporary exhibition "The Greeks: from Agamemnon to Alexander the Great", which is on display in museums in China from December 2023 to November 2025. After its trip to China, you can see it in the permanent exhibition "The Gold of the Macedon" (showcase 55) in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
