Many grand civilisations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity are witnessed by the very sophisticated precious metal crafting of jewellery. Gold would have been hammered down to a thin layer and manipulated into different shapes, with gold and silver jewellery featuring gold granules, glass and semi-precious stone inlays and detailed engravings. Their fine detailed craftsmanship was later adopted by the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans.
Agate has been known to fill veins or cracks in volcanic or altered rock underlain by granitic intrusive masses. Such agate, when cut transversely, exhibits a succession of parallel lines, often of extreme tenuity, giving a banded appearance to the section. This stone is often referred to as banded agate, riband agate, and striped agate, and is exemplified in these beads. Agate comes in a variety of colours, from earthy browns and creams to delicate pinks and reds. Natural pink agate is subtle in its colouring and features areas of translucency.
To discover more about jewellery in the Ancient World, please visit our relevant post: Jewellery in Antiquity.
