medieval court records

The Ring of Silvianus: Investigating the Real-Life Cursed Ring That Inspired J.R.R. TolkienIntroduction At the intersection of Roman Britain archaeology, medieval legal records, and 20th‑century literary creation lies a small, unassuming object whose story has fascinated historians, archaeologists, and Tolkien fans alike: the Ring of Silvianus. A ring found in Shropshire, linked in medieval court rolls to a curse and a lost treasure, has been argued by scholars to have inspired one of the most…