Miniature gold crescent-shaped pendant
The crescent pendant, symbolic of the sun and moon, of tetrahedral shape is decorated with a gold bead at each end, topped by a tubular suspension loop with bead
Note
While such pendants are mostly known in large size, such examples in miniature size are quite rare. It was most likely made for a young Roman aristocratic girl. Such lunar pendant were worn by girls/women in ancient Rome as an apotropaic amulet to protect them against evil forces. The equivalent pendant for boys/men was the bulla.
Period
Roman period, 2nd century A.D.
Dimension
H.
1.53 cm (0 39⁄64 in)
Coins and Antiquities, London, 1974
Private collection, Switzerland, acquired from the above
