Product Description: This is a strand of Roman Eye Beads from the ancient Roman period.

• Origin: Alexandria (modern-day Egypt)
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 82cm
  • Center Bead Size: 17mm x 13mm
• Note: As an antique item, it may have scratches, chips, or cracks.

About Roman Eye Beads:

Era: 100 BC to 300 AD

Origin: Alexandria (modern-day Egypt)

Technique: Core-wound application (a method where a metal rod is coated with a release agent and molten glass is wound around it; other colored glass is then applied in a polka-dot pattern).

Glass artifacts from the ancient Roman and Sasanian Persian periods are known as "Roman Glass." During the flourishing trade of the ancient Roman era, merchants crafted and sold a variety of bead designs to cater to the preferences of different buyers.

Among these Roman Glass beads, those with eye-like patterns are known as Eye Beads. These were believed to possess protective powers and were used as talismans. The design was inspired by ancient Phoenician beads, which predate the Roman period by several centuries.

It's fascinating to think that ancient Romans admired even older beads, highlighting that the history of beads is indeed intertwined with the history of humanity itself.