grylli
9.9
Small carved pictures often showing strange faces on gems or rings
- noun
- Archaic
:
grylli
- The ancient ring was adorned with intricate grylli that depicted mythological creatures.
Examples
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Scholars often study the grylli found on antique gems for insights into historical art styles.
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During the exhibition, the curator explained the significance of grylli in classical jewelry design.
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"He then goes on to say that after him such types of images are called grylli."
Academic text (1997)
Synonyms
1
9.9
A design cut below the surface of hard stone or a gem
is used for carved figures regardless of whether they are sunken
8.8
An engraved design cut into metal, wood or stone
is an archaic plural for carved figures often on gems or rings
9.9
A carving with the design cut below the surface of a stone or gem
is broader naming carved figures without stressing sunken or raised style
Surface Forms
grylli plural
Etymology
The word grylli comes from the old Latin word gryllus, which meant a small creature or 'cricket'. Carvers made tiny strange faces and creature shapes on gems and rings, so grylli came to mean those small, grotesque carved images, which is why the word refers to engraved figures today.