Roman Matching Pair of Earrings with Sun Disc

$1,578.70

A finely detailed Ancient Roman matching pair of gold earrings with a closed-end fastening. The earrings are modelled to the front with a sun-shaped disc, formed from a fine granulation and further enriched by a central hemispherical garnet bead. The earrings feature a hollow inverted conical-shape drop pendant, displaying to small loop handles, a gold granule to the top and a single white glass bead.

Date: Circa 1st-3rd century AD
Condition: Fine, complete and intact. These earrings are suitable for modern wear with modern hook or stud applied. Please consult a professional jeweller for any alterations. 

SOLD

SKU: FP-165 Category: Tag:

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 find out more about the gemstones used in Roman jewellery please see our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Gemstones in Ancient Jewellery.

Weight 5.1 g
Dimensions L 4 cm
Culture

Metal

Semi-Precious Stones

Region

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