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.