ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gemma Augustea

Okay kiddo, let me explain to you what the Gemma Augustea is!

You know what a gemstone is, right? Just like how we have toys and dolls, the ancient people used to have precious stones that they called gems. The Gemma Augustea is a very special gemstone that was made a really, really long time ago in ancient Rome.

This gemstone is actually a piece of art carved onto the surface of a big, round onyx stone. It was made by some very talented artists who used special tools to carve out pictures and designs onto the stone.

The Gemma Augustea has a lot of important people and events depicted on it. There are a bunch of gods and goddesses, animals like lions and snakes, and even a big battle scene! It's really cool because the people who made it were able to carve all of these tiny details into the stone so that we can see them even today.

The gemstone is also called "Augustus' Gem" because it was made for the first Roman Emperor, Augustus. He was a very important person in ancient Rome who ruled for a long time, and he wanted something that would show off his power and wealth. That's why he commissioned the Gemma Augustea to be made as a special piece of art for himself.

So now you know what the Gemma Augustea is! It's a really old, but very special and beautiful piece of art that was made a long time ago in ancient Rome.