Greek, Gold Herakles club pendant, Greek, circa 4th - 3rd century BC

Greek

Gold Herakles club pendant, Greek, circa 4th - 3rd century BC

Gold

Length of pendant: 1.4 cm
Length of chain: 18 in (adjustable to 16 in)

£ 2,200.00

Greek, Gold Herakles club pendant, Greek, circa 4th - 3rd century BC

Further images

A fine gold amulet in the form of Herakles' club. The amulet is decorated with finely detailed and intricate filigree work. Modern gold chain with a pin and ball suspension...

Provenance

UK private collection, acquired circa 2000

Literature

This fine gold pendant is modelled in the shape of a club of the infamous hero Herakles. Together with the Nemean lion skin, the club was the hero's primary attribute. The club became a popular motif in ancient jewellery, and was most likely worn as a protective amulet.

For two similar examples in the British Museum see, F.H Marshall, Catalogue of the Jewellery Greek, Etruscan and Roman in the Departments of the Antiquities British Museum, London, 1911, nos. 2036-7; also plate 34, no. 2038 & 2039. For further examples of the type of spiral filigree and granulation see J. Ogden and D. Williams, Greek Gold. Jewellery of the Classical World, London, 1994.

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