Jewelry made of precious metals for the wealthy and cheaper materials for common folk was an important part of daily dress in ancient Rome. Men typically wore finger rings and clothing ornaments, such as brooches, while women adorned themselves more extensively with necklaces, earrings, rings, brooches, and bracelets. Jewelry, particularly silver and gold, was an important form of property owned by women and remained theirs upon divorce (for another context, see M.76.174.249). The same tradition can be seen later in the Islamic period, as recorded in surviving dowry lists (see AC1997.58.1).
Though simple in form, these earrings feature several types of goldsmithing—the hoops consist of gold rope, while the medallions feature gold disks decorated with granulation and strips of gold. Once placed through the ear, the upper central medallion faced forward and the two smaller lower medallions faced outward, to the wearer’s sides, giving the earrings a clear orientation of left and right.
2024
