Mesopotamia was home to many uniquely sophisticated jewellery designs which employed a variety of gemstones and metals. Agate is a semiprecious material that fills veins or cracks in volcanic or altered rock that lies above intrusive granite masses. When cut transversely, the stone exhibits a succession of parallel lines, often of extreme tenuity, giving a banded appearance to the section. The stone was used for a wide range of purposesm from beads, amulets and cylinder seals. Also known as banded agate, riband agate, and striped agate, the diversity of patterns and hues is exemplified in these beads.
To discover more about gemstones in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Jewellery in Antiquity.
