Roman Gold Drop Earrings with Garnets

£ 1,395.00

A pair of Roman gold earrings featuring a circular loop fitting, made from a single wire. A teardrop inset garnet cabochon has been applied to the loop. A drop pendant hangs from the loop with granular decoration to the base.

 

Date: Circa 2nd - 3rd century AD
Condition: Excellent.

SOLD

SKU: AH-663 Category: Tags: ,

During The Roman Empire jewellery became quickly a fundamental and essential social display of wealth. Following the spread of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborate in the designs and in the materials used. Semi-precious gemstones, such as garnet, were used to enrich and embellish earrings, rings and necklaces. In Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Hades gave pomegranate seeds to his lover Persephone, as a token of safety, while she was leaving the underworld to join her mother Demeter in the human world. The semi-precious stone garnet, recalling the colour and the shape of the pomegranate seed, became a typical gift exchanged between separated lovers.

To discover more about the meanings of gemstones and semi-precious gemstones in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Gemstones in Ancient Jewellery.

Weight 6.8 g
Dimensions L 5 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Semi-Precious Stones