Middle Ages 'love ring' found in Utrecht

A golden love ring from the Middle Ages was recently found in the province of Utrecht. This is the first time ever that a so-called 'black letter posy ring' is found in the Netherlands, Landscape Heritage Utrecht's archeology department announced. The location where this unique discovery was made was not disclosed, at the request of the anonymous finder.

The love ring dates from between 1375 and 1550, according to the organization. Sweet messages were engraved on such rings, like 'think of me' or 'I love only you'. These rings were mainly made in England for women.

The text on the ring found in Utrecht is something of a puzzle. The French words "Amours portent mon cuer à mon ami" are engraved on the inside of the ring. That translates to: "Love carries my heart to my love", according to the organization. The text uses the male form of 'ami', and not the female 'a mon ami', which either shows that the ring was for a man, or the maker was not very proficient in French.

The image on the ring also raises questions. It could be a hunting dog, as a sign of loyalty, or a panthere d'amour - a love panther, according to the organization.