This beautiful hand carved and gilded rock crystal charm was inspired by the Persian Achaemenid gold roundel of a winged lion now held at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. The roundel was found at Hamadan at Tepe Hagamatana - the site of ancient Ecbatana and summer residence of the Achaemenid kings - and is dated between 550-330 BC. The original snarling winged lion, worked in gold repousse, is a tribute to the extraordinary skill of the Achaemenid goldsmiths and was intended to be worn attached to clothing. The ancient Greek historians often recorded the incredible wealth of the Persians and Herodotus wrote that King Xerxes troops were "adorned with the greatest magnificence...they glittered all over with gold, vast quantities of which they wore about their persons." Handmade using recycled 22k yellow gold and Ataléia rock crystal from Brazil. Chain is available separately. Length approximately 30mm W 24mm (L 1.1in W .9in). One-of-a-kind.
