www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Can you identitfy this picture/image?

I belong to a forum on gemology/jewelry. One of the forum members has run across an antique ring which she believes fits the bill as a religious "trinket" produced in Germany within 100 years, prior or post 1100 AD.

The ring is a simple shank with a medal attached to the top to form something like a signet. I am hoping that some of our esteemed members who have knowledge of the strange, odd, rare and unique of Christendom, may be able to identify the figure on the medal and it's meaning. Here is a brief description:
Here is the image:

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Many thanks,

Jason

It looks like there were twelve stars surrounding the figure. Is the crescent the moon? The object in the hand looks like a censer. There are sandals on its feet and a helmet on the figure's head with a nose guard. I don't recognize the dress, but it looks simple and more ancient than the 12th century. The clothes look more like what would be worn from the earliest times in Israel.

It doesn't look "German". I would take a close look at 5-6th century North Africa, maybe Ethiopia. But that is a guess and a simple reading. I would like my ventures into history to involve more archaeology.

Terry