Babylonian Lapis Cylindrical Bead Necklace

Description

The Museum’s Babylonian Lapis Cylindrical Bead Necklace is based on the lapis jewelry crafted by the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia now in the Museum's Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art.

18K gold overlay, with conical granulated lapis lazuli. Matte finish. Hook and eye closure. 18''L.

Art History

From the earliest times, demand for exotic stones, shells, and metals for use in jewelry created the need for long-distance connections throughout the ancient world. Mesopotamia was the heart of the ancient Near East and from the seventh millennium B.C. to the second millennium B.C. this region provided a period of remarkable internationalism and interconnection between kingdoms throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Beads of lapis lazuli, likely mined in the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan, and carnelian and agate from India, reached Mesopotamia nearly five thousand years ago.