Roman lunula pendant

Roman lunula pendant
ITEM: Lunula pendant
MATERIAL: Gold
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 16 mm x 21 mm, 0,7 gr
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, acquired before 1990s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

The Roman lunula, named after its crescent or "lunar" shape, was a pendant or amulet worn primarily by women and young girls, symbolizing protection, femininity, and good fortune. Made commonly from gold, silver, or bronze, these crescent-shaped ornaments were typically worn around the neck or wrist. The lunula served as both a fashionable accessory and a powerful protective charm, believed to harness the protective qualities of the moon and the goddess Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting. The design of the lunula was popular among Roman women, particularly during the Empire, reflecting both its aesthetic appeal and its associations with fertility, purity, and the feminine divine.

The use of the lunula has origins in earlier Italic and Etruscan cultures, where similar crescent-shaped amulets were worn by both women and men. However, during the Roman period, the lunula became more closely associated with female protection and youth. Many girls wore these pendants to ward off the "evil eye" or other malevolent forces, and some sources suggest they were thought to safeguard against infertility or harm to young women. Occasionally, these amulets were passed down through generations, which added to their sentimental and protective significance. The popularity of the lunula extended throughout the Roman Empire, with examples found in diverse regions, from Britannia to North Africa, underscoring its widespread cultural resonance.

In addition to its protective role, the lunula had symbolic ties to Roman religious and cultural beliefs surrounding the moon and femininity. The crescent shape mirrored lunar cycles, which were often associated with women’s monthly cycles and fertility.

Measurement:

2.1 x 1.6 cm