During the Roman Empire jewellery quickly became a fundamental and essential social display of wealth. Roman jewellery firstly followed the aesthetics set by the Etruscans. Following the spread of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborate in the designs and in the materials used, such as precious and semi-precious gemstones. Roman mythology was used as part of a repertoire of subjects to enrich and adorn necklaces, pins, rings and earrings. This fine pendant is modelled in the shape of the club of Hercules. Together with the lion skin, the club was the main attribute of the Greco-Roman hero, and became a popular motif in Roman jewellery from the 2nd century AD.
To discover more about the use of Jewellery in ancient times, please visit our relevant post: Jewellery in Antiquity.