Roman Eye Beads Strand

Product Description: This strand of Roman Eye Beads dates back to ancient Roman times.

Origin: Alexandria (modern-day Egypt)

Size:

• Length: 98cm
• Central Bead Size: 13mm x 13mm

Note: As these are antique items, they may exhibit signs of wear such as scratches, cracks, or chips.

About Roman Eye Beads:

Era: 1st century BCE to 4th century CE

Origin: Alexandria (modern-day Egypt)

Techniques: Core-wound attachment (a method where molten glass is wound around a metal rod coated with a release agent, then additional colored glass is applied in polka-dot patterns)

Roman glass, created during the ancient Roman and Sassanian Persia periods, is renowned for its intricate craftsmanship. Ancient Roman traders, well-versed in glasswork, tailored bead designs to meet the preferences of their buyers.

Among these creations, beads featuring eye-like patterns are known as Eye Beads. These were inspired by ancient Phoenician beads, believed to possess protective powers, and were recreated during the Roman period. The original Phoenician beads date back several centuries before ancient Rome.

The fascination with ancient beads among Romans highlights how bead-making is intertwined with human history.