Ancient Roman Amulet
An utterly remarkable Roman pendant dated 1st century AD. It comprises are rare glass cameo bust of a man wearing a hood or hat, possibly a CucuIlātus or a pileus, made of textured gold. The face is expressive and exceptionally well carved, framed by the ruffled gold 'fabric' with five distinct rope-work loops, in various different forms - twisted, beaded, plain, etc. - forming the border. A reeded bail at the top allows it to hang from a chain.
If the gold is a indeed hooded cloak - a CucuIlātus - the pendant likely represents the healing god Telesphorus, son of Asclepius and brother of Salus (the Roman equivalent of Hygieia). He goes by two other names in Greek, Akesis and Euameriôn, which translate as 'healing'/'cure' and 'prosperous', respectively, while Telesphorus translates as 'accomplisher'. Telesphorus is assumed to have Celtic origins, taken to Anatolia by the Galatians in the 3rd century BC. It was in Anatolia that he became associated with the Asclepian cult, possibly in Pergamon, then spread from there back to the west through the rise of the Roman Empire. Scholars believe that Telesphorus was a protector of children for the healing gods, with ancient writings thanking him for the birth of healthy children, and statuettes found in children's graves in North Macedonia suggest that he was believed to protect children even in death.
"Alexanor, the son of Makhaon (Machaon), the son of Asklepios (Asclepius), came to Sikyonia and built the sanctuary of Asklepios at Titane . . . There are images [within the shrine] also of Alexanor and of Euamerion; to the former they give offerings as to a hero after the setting of the sun; to Euamerion, as being a god, they give burnt sacrifices. If I conjecture aright, the Pergamenes, in accordance with an oracle, call this Euamerion Telesphoros (Accomplisher) while the Epidaurians call him Akesis (Cure)." - Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 11. 4 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue 2nd century AD)
Provenance: Purchased from specialist auction
Era: Roman, circa 1st century AD
Stone: Glass
Size: 3.7cm by 2.8cm by 2.0cm (including bail) (height by width by depth)
Weight: 22.7 grams
Marks: None, tested as 23/24ct gold
Condition: Good. This is an ancient artefact that is around 2000 years old with wear commensurate with age. The gold is split in places and the glass has taken a knock (or two) presenting with a crack running through it under the chin and some nibbles and conchoidal chips to the back. Please see images for an impression of the overall condition.
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Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
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Condition
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