Γύγου δακτύλιος

[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to resourceful and villainous men. For Gyges was a cowherd who after an earthquake found a corpse which was wearing a ring, and stripped it off. The nature of the ring was such that, by twists of the bezel,¹ one would be [first] seen and [then] unseen. By means of this Gyges killed his predecessor and ruled as king.