Object type
necklace
Culture/period
Materials
glass paste
Technique
tool modelled, applied elements
Mint
Production date
-400 / -201
Current location
MASPG
Archaeological site
Empúries
Township
Escala, l' (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Girona, Alt Empordà)
Dimensions
696 x 12 (Ø màx.) mm
Description
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Necklace originally from the Eastern Mediterranean, dated in the 4th-3rd centuries BC, found in Empúries (L'Escala, Alt Empordà). It is 69.6 cm long and consists of several beads of glass paste made by rolling glass around a metal or bone stem. Once the desired shape was obtained, it was put in the oven. Then the fired bead was extracted from the stem, which left a hole that allowed it to be threaded. The beads are spherical, polychrome and have an eye decoration. Eye-shaped decoration has a prophylactic and apotropaic function, that is, it protects its owner from evil spirits and avoids the evil eye.
Among the various beads of glass paste are small surprises such as a bronze bead and a bead of glass paste with hot applications, representing a bearded man with very large eyes. Bearded male heads as a decorative element are associated with a symbol of protection.
© Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - Girona
Omeka ID
3247