Earlier in 2017, the Supernatural Research Institute continued to investigate the ring, and it’s history to determine it’s age and origins. The first reaction upon viewing the ring is that it’s carved into the face of a deity perhaps a demon or the devil. However, if the ring is as old as suspected, then it may date back to the 12th or 13th Century, or even older. If it is from that period, then the ring may be a representation of another old pagan element, such as the Greek god Pan.
The characteristics ascribed to Pan in numerous lesser tales are well known: dark, terror-awakening, phallic, but not always malignant. He could, of course, sometimes be malignant, especially at noon, if Pan was awakened from his sleep.
In continental Europe, as well as in Britain, some worshippers of the ancient Celtic and Graeco-Roman gods had refused to convert to Christianity, and the rites performed interpreted as magical rites. The Celts worshipped a horned male god that may have reminded the Romans of the god Pan; a minor god to be sure, but one who could drive you into a ‘panic’ terror when you encountered him at noontime. This combination of horned gods, one Celtic, one classical, produced a mighty deity around which the Pagani rallied.
Sybarios was an Italian Pan worshipped in the Greek colony of Sybaris in Italy. The Sybarite Pan, conceived when a Sybarite shepherd boy named Krathis copulated with a pretty she-goat amongst his herds. Pan also Faunus had been worshipped in towns along the Italian coastline, such as Pompeii, which is near the area where this ring was initially acquired.
The ring is handmade from one nugget of Silver, and the eyes are either Rubies or Garnets. Although told they were Rubies, but to me, they look more like Garnets, but I am no expert. The carving of the face is intricate, indicating hair on the sides of the face. The eyes are in an old type of setting, obviously pushed into hot metal and the silver being pulled up and around the eyes to hold the stones in. He has a hooked nose and protruding chin. The horns curled like that of a ram, but there could be a purpose to this as if they were in any other way they would catch on clothes or be harmful. His face is lopsided with one eye lower than the other and, if looked at sideways, one facet appears to show him smiling and the other sneering. When I first acquired the ring the band was so worn and thin at the back by continuous wear that I was worried it would snap and the ring would be lost, so I had it re-shanked — otherwise, it's in original condition.
Bringing the ring out of the darkness and back into the light of day these past two years has caused some emotions and a strange connection with it, I struggle to understand this and many other things with the ring.
I forgot about the flies until I was reminded by a friend who had come to stay and had witnessed them for herself. But this had not been the first time flies had invaded us, one year in the dining room hundreds of the little buggers and hubby going crazy trying to find out where they all came from even pulling up the floorboards to make sure nothing had crawled under them and died. No windows had been open in that room, and they had not flown into any other, the ring was on the dining room table that day. Again later in the year when it was too cold for flies, it happened again, in the office, this time. I wondered about the myth of flies with Beelzebub, but now I think I connected the two as I had no other answer for the fly attack.
I genuinely do not know what to make of this ring; It has been in my care now for nearly 50 years. Until a couple of years ago, it was shut up in the attic of the house where maybe I should have left it. I wrote about the ring in one of my books ‘Among the Spirits.’ Mark my radio co-host got to hear about it, and we started talking. Curiosity got the better of us, and now we want to know more about its origins. Both of us started looking into different deities that had once been worshipped in that area of Italy, and we came across an article where a statue of Pan discovered in Pompeii. That and other references to Pan in that area led us to believe he could have been just that. I was pleased with that outcome I wanted it to be Pan rather than any demon as someone once told me. To make sure, I sent photographs of the ring to the British Museum, and the answer came back that it was not Pan after all, and the first impression of it being a demon could well be right.
More research into that part of Italy led to a statue of Beelzebub that stands proudly on the hillsides overlooking Positano.
The ring seems to have a life of its own, and when not locked away strange things happen.
Inanimate objects hold energy some say. If the ring was used in harmful ceremonies or for conjuring, who knows what, it has most likely become charged with the thoughts, and emotions of the wearers and may have an attached entity or two. For example, In middle eastern magical practice Jinns were trapped in rings so the ring's owners could call on them when needed. Could this possibly be the case with this ring?
Somehow this ring seems to affect people. Mark and I and Andy another co-host used the ring as a topic of one of our radio shows. Through the show, I had the ring on my finger. I was in a happy mood starting the show, but as the discussion went on, I felt myself getting protective of what was said about the ring. To a point where I began to feel angry with my co-hosts, and it took all I had not to snap at them — the show aimed at discussing and trying to analyse the origin of the ring.
I now keep the ring in a safe at home, and since doing this, the strange phenomena of a pull to the ring has begun to occur. It is a weird feeling a need to get the ring to wear it and odd as these words are, to be with it.
Sitting in the bath one morning, I felt the draw to the ring. I tried to ignore it and began to daydream; I don't know if it was my thoughts or was it coming from the ring in the safe. In my head, I had the impression that whoever made this ring was quite wealthy, even if it was just a hundred years ago there was a big divide between the wealthy and the poor. To own a nugget this size, to carve the ring from, someone must have had money. Then my thoughts drifted to the making of it, even over the past couple of hundred years smithies and metal workers had tools they had machinery even if primitive to what we had today and could turn out beautifully finished jewellery. The ring is not like that; it is one piece of Silver; there are no seams on it at all. There is not one photo that I have taken that does it justice. I have noticed writing this I want to stop using the word it but instead have an overwhelming desire to use the word him, I have learned over the years to follow my instincts, and this is the way I am going to go now.
Why does my ring have this control/ hold over people? Why, does it have a negative feel to it and do the things it does? It gives the impression of being alive. Could it be that someone once owned it that was evil in themselves or had evil intent and this has over the years imprinted on to the ring? We have all heard about objects having so-called attachments retaining the energy of the owner or creator. Or could the ring be a representation of something completely different, this is what we are trying to find out. There are two parts to this research one is to find out where the ring came from initially and what he is. The other is to try to see and register the paranormal activity it produces. This blog is not to glorify the ring as a haunted object, but to discover more about it if possible. What I want, is any ideas and any ideas on how to test the ring. The British Museum ruled out Pan and suggested it could be a demon, but I never asked them about Bacchus or am I clutching at straws here in the hope of an answer that puts the ring in a more innocent light.
I once again tested the ring by wearing it, and I have been very out of Character. I am going into hysterical laughter over the silliest of things. Bitching and insulting people even to the point of telling someone, a friend, that he was an idiot. While wearing the ring I have had a no care and playful attitude. Taking it off I became my sensible self. None of this is within my personality the laughter, uncontrollable, felt almost like something was laughing through me. So now the ring is back in the safe, and this house and I have returned to normality.
The more I hold this ring, the more I look at it I feel that it contained such importance to its creator. Its eyes draw you in, like swirling burning magma, pools of fire, they are hypnotic. For whatever reason, this ring was made I at times think is not important now. What I do believe is important is that the ring is, that it is here, it has survived. Ugly as the ring is, it has an attraction that cannot be resisted.
I am feeling now confused I know it is only a metal object but today holding it feels different. On the outside still, it is cold, hard and solid but, as I look at it, he is also alive. I feel as if I am looking at it through my soul an alternative type of vision, its looks flesh and blood. I think if I were to put pressure on it it would be like pushing the skin on someone's face...It again is a weird emotion a strange experience.
Testing the ring out again today I will wear it although it feels so heavy on my finger and can be uncomfortable. The thing I can't figure is that the ring is loose on me when I first put it on but within no time becomes tight and takes some pulling to get off. I could understand it if we had hot weather and my fingers were swollen, but in this weather, we have that’s not likely to happen. Still, it happens.
Written by Irene Allen-Block.
Wearing the ring tonight and must admit my personality changed. I just wanted to be very naughty. I am not sure if this is the influence of the ring or a state of mind because I expect something. I would plummet for the latter...I am being pulled to him again and feel the ring wants to give me protection. Weird the thoughts that are going on in my head today is as if it is talking to me. The protection emotion I am feeling is impressing on me that the ring is fond of me. Could it be that because I have looked after and protected this ring for nearly 50 years that now it is protecting me, its keeper? Or is it just some sincere desire to have this object as a sort of comforter. I also feel I need to spend more time with him, being in tune with him more will give me answers. I wrote on here earlier what I saw when looking into his eyes, wonder now if I should try that again. Frig one moment I am feeling this ring as a living thing the next my radical brain is telling me its an immaterial object. I need to know more.
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