![]() Western Asian, Egyptian, and other cultures were of great influence. Gradually appearance of Roman jewelry developed into a genre of and emerald crystals]] its own during the Imperial Era. The use of jewelry in Roman society became popular fast with most of their items resembling that of the Hellenistic style. Things changed dramatically after the annexation of the Greek world. Gallo-Roman Emerald Earrings of Gold Wire. The use of gold in jewelry was officially discouraged. Gold was very scarce and the little gold that existed was used for trading and warfare rather than personal adornment. Yet, examples of Roman jewelry from this early period (7th-1st century BC) are extremely rare. Early Rome Gallo-Roman Lion Earrings.Ä«eing under the influence of the Etruscans, the early Romans must have seen the splendid examples of the artists created by their northern neighbors. He discussed the use, history, and properties of gold, jewelry and precious stones in his writings named Naturalis Historia so that we can enjoy seeing the Roman world through the eyes of a Roman. Pliny the Elder forms an excellent example. ![]() The 1st-century author Gaius Plinius Secundus a.k.a. Roman writers were among the first to create a vivid picture of their civilisation, their knowledge, fashion and craftsmanship through the written word. A situation which, fortunately, is made up for by historical sources. Consequently, unlike the Egyptian richly decorated graves and Etruscan urn burials which provide us with perfectly preserved jewelry, we have to do without grave finds. In Rome cremation was the way to dispose of the deceased. The excavations of the two towns account for the largest part of 1st-century Roman jewelry that has been preserved. ![]() The two sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii form the exception to the rule. Roman Heritage Roman Amethyst, Emerald, Blue Glass and Gold Necklace c.3rd Century. Loose ring stones, for instance, have been found in the sewers of Roman bathhouses. The individual pieces are often just lost items. The hoards would have been items that were stashed away for safekeeping, or maybe as votive offerings. It is hidden hoards of jewelry and individual finds that account for most of the items we can observe today. Archaeological finds of Roman jewelry are relatively rare considering the magnitude of the Roman civilisation, its duration and its vast Empire.
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