Roman Eye Beads Strand

Era: 100 BCE to 300 CE

Origin: Alexandria (currently Egypt)

Technique: Core-wound application (a method where a release agent is applied to a metal rod, and molten glass is wound around it with additional colored glass applied in polka dot patterns)

Glass created during Ancient Rome and the Sassanian Empire periods is known as "Roman Glass." The ancient Roman merchants, who were active in glass trade, crafted beads in various designs to suit the preferences of their buyers.

Among these, beads with eye-like patterns are called Eye Beads. These were used as talismans believed to ward off evil, recreating the ancient Phoenician beads during the Roman period. The Phoenician beads date back several centuries before Ancient Rome.

It is fascinating to think that the Romans admired beads from even more ancient times. The history of beads is indeed intertwined with the history of humankind.