Ancient Roman Gold Hoop Earrings with Pearls

Ancient Roman jewellery was an essential public display of wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed the trends set by the Etruscans. As the power and spread of the Roman Empire grew however, jewellery designs and materials became even more elaborate both to incorporate different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa and the Orient. This reflected Rome’s prosperity as a dominant and conquering city. Such earrings, much like this fine example, would have been worn by straightening the pointed, tapering gold wire through the pierced ear.