Silver Vermeil Pilgrims Ring From Santiago De Compostela. Spanish, XVth Century.

Silver gilt pilgrims ring from Santiago de Compostella. Spanish, 15th century.

A Medieval silver gilt pilgrims ring from Santiago de Compostella.

Spanish, 15th century.


Ring size P 1/2 UK / 8 US.

The ring is set with a three quarter length bust of Saint James the Greater of Compostella, flanked by his attribute of scallop shells.

Saint James the Greater was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, the first to be martyred according to the New Testament. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to tradition, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

The son of Zebedee and Salome, James is styled "the Greater" to distinguish him from the Apostle James "the Less", with greater meaning older or taller, rather than more important. James the Great was the brother of John the Evangelist.

The 1,000 year old pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is known in English as the ‘Way of Saint James’ and in Spanish as the ‘Camino de Santiago’. Over 200,000 pilgrims travel to the city each year from points all over Europe and other parts of the world.