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Roman Brown Jasper Intaglio depicting the Zodiac 2nd – 3rd Century

$21,559.32
£15,976.64
€18,000
CA$29,432.56
A$32,742.52
CHF 17,164.04
MX$400,105.62
NOK 218,562.64
SEK 205,746.48
DKK 137,050.42
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About the Item

The Roman intaglio of the II-III century is set in a pendant in 18 carat gold. The carving shows the symbols of the Zodiac in a circular form, which recalls the motion of the sun and the etymology of the term, derived from the Greek ζῴδιον (zōdion). In Roman times astrology spread from the 2nd century, when it was adopted by Augustus and other emperors. The zodiac was an instrument with whom to get in touch with the gods and it was assumed that the stars influenced human life. At that time there were different types of astrology, including a geopolitical trend that places regions and peoples under the domination of the stars, which would influence characters and habits. This would make the seven planets, associated with deities, govern the ages of humanity, a fact that would justify the presence of three figures included within the astrological circle. These deities would be the representation of the 3 ages of man, with which we tend to generalize the life cycle: on the left Mercury - recognizable by the caduceus, or the rod with two twisted snakes - represents childhood and infancy; right Mars - identifiable by its nakedness and being accompanied by the crested helmet and the spear - is a symbol of maturity, in which you come into contact with the bitterness of life; in the center, instead, Jupiter - recognizable by the long beard and curly hair, in addition to being accompanied by the scepter and the eagle, symbol of his power - it is an emblem of senility, or foresight and decorum. The figures are also flanked by a star, symbol of the constellations and a triangle, difficult to interpret, but could represent the trine, which is the harmony derived from the cooperation between planets, determining a positive effect on individual fate. To crown this symbolism, the carving was made of jasper, a stone that in antiquity was considered a source of courage and protection. The intaglio is also in excellent conservation conditions and the intaglio, of very high quality, is easily readable and interpretable. Period: 2nd – 3rd century Dimension: 40mm x 28mm Weight: 18.83gr

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