The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but as the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity as a dominant, conquering city.
Trichinopoly chains are most commonplace within Viking contexts, however examples have been discovered from much earlier Greek, Roman, and Byzantine sites. Creating the pieces involved weaving together individual wires to from a thicker chain.
