The figure can be referred to the Roman god Aesculapius. In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Asclepius or Aesculapius, was the god associated with medicine, healing and science. The deity is here shown while holding his most significant attribute, the serpent-entwined rod know as the ‘Rod of Asclepius’ or the ‘Staff of Asclepius’. The serpent and the staff appear to have been separate symbols that were combined at some point in the development of the Asclepian cult. ‘The rod of Asclepius’ remains a symbol of medicine today.
To discover more about jewellery in the Ancient World, please visit our relevant post: Jewellery in Antiquity.
