Roman Hercules Club Gold Pendant

£ 500.00

A finely modelled Hercules club pendant, formed of hollow sheet, with a suspension loop to the top for attachment and adorned with granulation along its length. The pendant features a long shaft and a rounded end, framed to the top by a twisted gold wire. Further embellishment includes gold granules. Such a pendant testifies to the great refinement and attention to detail of Roman goldsmiths. Weight: 2.9 g.

Date: Circa 2nd-3rd Century AD
Condition: Fine, professionally restored. Suitable for modern wear with care.

SOLD

Product Code: RES-76
Category: Tag:

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.

Dimensions L 4 cm
Region

Southern Europe

Metal

Gold

Roman Mythology

Hercules

Reference: For a similar item, Christie’s, 5th December 2012, New York, Lot 407.