Byzantine Amethyst Necklace

Description

Adorned with amethyst, garnet, and cultured freshwater pearls, our lovely Byzantine Amethyst Necklace is developed from an original Byzantine gold and silver necklace in the Museum’s collection. The delicate filigree closure on the necklace was skillfully fashioned using gold wires. Luxurious jewelry produced in this period indicates the wealth and prosperity enjoyed by many in the early Byzantine world.

Available long or short. Sterling silver, with 24K gold overlay, amethyst, garnet, and cultured freshwater pearls. Hook and eye closure. Long: 32''L. Short: 17 1/2''L.

Art History

In 330 A.D. Constantine the Great, emperor of Rome from 307 to 337 A.D., transferred the imperial capital from Rome to Constantinople (originally a small Greek town called Byzantion, now Istanbul). The state ruled over from this new capital came to be called Byzantium. In its early centuries it stretched around the Mediterranean, bridging east and west. This first golden age of Byzantium extended from the founding of Constantinople into the 700s. In the early Byzantine world, luxurious jewelry often indicated a person’s status; it was also thought to ward off evil and bring good fortune through the protective properties of some precious stones. Amethyst, for example, was worn by the Greeks as an amulet to protect against the effects of wine and poison and to keep the wearer safe from harm in battle.