A Parthian Gold Pendant, ca. 247 BCE - 224 CE

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This ancient gold pendant was originally an earring and is in the shape of a flat crescent, decorated with gold wire wrapped around the sides and three granule clusters. Two are in the shape of grape clusters, and the central grouping is a ring of granules with one in the middle. Throughout the Parthian Empire, many objects, including jewelry, featured iconography associated with Dionysos, the Greek god of wine, whose cult spread eastward after Alexander’s invasion in 330 BCE. This Dionysian influence is evident in this example through the grape clusters, a motif that dates back to the third millennium BC. This example is an excellent representation of the synthesis of Greek and Near Eastern elements that are indicative of Parthian culture. Medium: Gold Dimensions: Pendant length: 5/8 inch (1.8 cm) Strung as a pendant on an 18-inch gold chain. Condition: The pendant is intact and in excellent condition overall. It has been strung on a modern 18K gold chain. Provenance: Private New York collection. Show more