Roman Eye Beads Strand

Product Description: This stunning piece is a strand of Roman Eye Beads from ancient Rome.

• Origin: Alexandria (present-day Egypt)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 83cm
  • Central bead size: 13mm x 13mm
• Note: As this is an antique item, it may have scratches, cracks, or chips.

About Roman Eye Beads:

Era: 100 BCE to 300 CE

Origin: Alexandria (present-day Egypt)

Technique: Core-formed technique (a method involving coating a metal rod with a release agent and wrapping molten glass around it, with additional colored glass applied in a dotted pattern).

Roman glass, created during the ancient Roman and Sassanian Persian periods, is known for its exquisite craftsmanship. Ancient Roman merchants, who actively traded glassware, produced various bead designs to cater to buyers' preferences.

Among Roman glass beads, those with eye-like patterns are called Eye Beads. These beads were believed to have protective powers and were inspired by ancient Phoenician beads, which date back even further than the Roman period. The fact that ancient Romans admired beads from an even older era showcases the long and intertwined history of beads and human civilization.