Pendants & Amulets
Antique pendants and amulets
Romans liked to wear charms and pendants made of gold, silver or bronze. More information about Roman charms & pendants
Roman Pendants & Amulets
The word "jewellery" comes from "nestle" and has always been used to decorate and adorn the human body. The jewellery box for ancient charms and pendants invites you to browse and admire!
Aesthetics that works!
Amulets and pendants have been worn since the beginning of human history. They often indicated one's position in the social hierarchy, religious community or position of power, as not everyone could afford the expensive materials and production of jewellery. With the constant development of craftsmanship and advanced techniques, the result over time has been an artfully crafted, aesthetically pleasing object.
A phallus for good luck
In ancient times, the phallus was considered a lucky charm. The bronze phallus of a replica found in Pompeii is striking for its simple beauty. A naked woman on horseback drips oil from a small bottle onto the floating phallus. To the modern eye, this may seem a little offensive. But in Roman antiquity, the attributes of the oil and the woman on horseback support the effect of the phallus to ward off harm and bring good luck. The phallus was seen as something natural and not at all obscene. It was only in Christian morality that the physical became something impure and sinful. Such depictions of women on horseback can also be found on tintinabuli, Roman doorbells that were symbols of fertility and wealth. They can be admired in the museums of Trier and Naples.
La Luna - The Moon
Casts of the original pelta-shaped appliqués from the Roman Empire have also been transformed into pendants. Pelta were extremely popular ornaments, as evidenced by countless finds in the Roman provinces. In its characteristic shape, the pelta resembles a crescent or a small epsilon. It usually consists of a semicircle with two concave indentations in the form of small semicircles on its straight side. This results in three points, which can be shaped in different ways. In the military context, the pelta can be found as belt buckles and fittings, brooches and pendants in the camps near the Limes. The ornament takes its name from a term adopted by the Romans for a light crescent-shaped shield, the so-called "Amazon shield". The bronze and silver pelta pendants are striking in their simple beauty, especially when worn on a plain leather strap.
The Romans also loved the opposite shape: the crescent moon Luna. The pendant is sensual. The "little moon", a so-called Lunula pendant, is a symbol of the Roman moon goddess Luna, to whom special powers were attributed. Children and women in particular trusted the pendant's ominous powers. The goddess is a symbol of female strength and identity. She represents intuition, creativity and sensuality.
The journey through the world of Roman amulets and pendants is a world of mysticism and ornamental symbolism.
It is well worth discovering!