Ancient Roman Blue Glass Pendant with Lion
£ 125.00
A fine Ancient Roman pendant featuring a circular moulded body made from deep blue glass. To the top of the pendant is a thick suspension loop which allowed the item to have been hung from a necklace. Heated to high temperatures, the glass would have been pulled taut then looped over and set in place as it cooled. The front of the pendant is enriched with the image of a lion walking left while the reverse has been left unadorned.
Date: Circa 4th – 6th century AD
Provenance: Ex major S.M collection, London, 1970-2010
Condition: Very fine, with pitting and abrasions, as well as soil encrustation to the surface.
In stock
Such glass pendants would have been worn by Romans as good fortune charms to bring good luck and ward off the evil. Iconographies were extremely differentiated, including apotropaic symbols, images of deities and animals. The lion as a symbol within Roman culture was thought to represent strength, justice and ‘the majesty of the Roman people.’ The addition of the crescent is thought to represent the Roman god Sin, the moon god, and the star is thought to represent Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
For more information about the meanings of animals in Roman art, see our relevant blog post: Animal Symbolism in Roman Art.