ATTRIBUTION: Eastern Roman Empire (Thracia), 1st Century A.D.

SIZE/MEASUREMENTS:

Height: 65 millimeters.

Width: 34 millimeters.

Depth: 14 millimeters.

Weight: 43.29 grams.

Chain: Contemporary bronze tone 48 centimeters (18 inches).

CONDITION: Excellent. Entirely intact, sound integrity, no cracks, minimal porosity (surface pitting caused by contact with earth while buried). Good finish. Professionally conserved.

DETAIL: This is a very handsome, very large and distinctive, decorative piece of ancient Roman bronze ornamentation. Pendants of many different themes were enthusiastically worn by the Romans, as were brooches, rings, bracelets, hair pins, etc. This particular pendant depicts the Roman God of Love and Fertility, Cupid. Cupid is depicted winged (see the wings just above the shoulder blades), as a young god not a boy, wear of course, Roman garb, curly hair, and a beard. Although some are sure to say, "but cupid was a little cherub with a bow and arrow", actually long before cupid became merely an insignificant little fairy he was a God of great significance to both the Greeks and Romans. Aside from being the God of Love, Cupid was worshipped as a fertility God, and also regarded as a symbol of eternal life. Not only was Cupid a significant deity, but the legends surrounding the God were enormously popular in folklore.

The artifact evidences none of the gross porosity (fine surface pitting due to burial in soil) that so commonly disfigures small ancient bronze artifacts. The pendant possesses a gorgeous antique bronze patina. There are no cracks, chips, or other impairments to its integrity. The Romans were very fond of jewelry and personal ornamentation, making wide use of very ornate belt buckles, brooches, bracelets worn both on the forearm and upper arm, rings, and of course pendants. This is a very distinct and handsome piece of Roman jewelry. It will without any doubt call attention to both itself and its wearer. It is accompanied by a contemporary bronze-tone copper chain which would darken with wear within a week or two to match the pendant in tone. The chain comes with the pendant at no additional charge. We also have available sterling silver and 14kt gold chains.

HISTORY: Cupid was the god of love in Roman mythology, the Romans having appropriated and renamed the Greek God "Eros", who was worshipped not as a little cherub, but as a fertility god. The name Cupid is a variation on the Latin, Cupido ("desire"), and this god was also known by the name Amor ("love"). It was commonly believed that Cupid was the son of Venus - the Roman Goddess of Love - and Mercury - The Roman God of War. Of course the Romans had borrowed both the legend and identities from the Greeks; where Cupid was "Eros"; his mother was "Aphrodite", and his father "Ares". The character of Cupid was very significant in Roman folklore. Though Cupid was often depicted in the latter empire as a chubby little baby with bow and arrows, the most significant folktale involved Cupid as a young man falling in love with Psyche, a mere mortal though of fantastic beauty. In fact, Psyche was so beautiful that Cupid's mother was jealous, and a mythological tale of great significance to the Romans deals with settling the differences between Cupid, his lover/wife, and his mother. Ultimately Zeus ("Jupiter" to the Romans) interceded, giving permission for the marriage, and elevating Psyche to the status of an immortal. This famous tale comes from the Roman novel, Metamorphoses or The Golden Ass by Apuleius. Cupid is portrayed as a handsome, winged youth, just as he is depicted in this bronze amulet.

The association between Cupid and his mother Venus was quite popular in myth, poetry, literature, and art; not only just in Roman times but all the way through Renaissance Europe. According to the most ancient Greek mythology, contradicting latter folklore, Eros was not the offspring of Aphrodite, but rather was one of the first deities born into the world. Eros emerged from Chaos along with Gaia (the Earth) and Tartarus (the Underworld). From the early legend of Eros it is said that he was responsible for the embraces of Uranus (Heaven or Sky) and Gaia (Earth), and from their union were born many offspring. In these primordial legends Eros hatched our race and made it appear first into the light. In later times when the Greeks regarded Eros as a handsome young fertility god, the center of cults of worship were at Thespiae and at Athens. It was only over the course of centuries that he was transformed into a chubby, mischievous child. Even to the Romans Cupid had a more serious nature than either that of an arrow slinging Cherub or even the youthful fertility god. The Romans also regarded Cupid as a symbol of life after death and decorated sarcophagi with his image.

One of the greatest civilizations of recorded history was the ancient Roman Empire. In exchange for a very modest amount of contemporary currency, you can possess a small part of that great civilization in the form of a 2,000 year old piece of jewelry. The Roman civilization, in relative terms the greatest military power in the history of the world, was founded in the 8th century (B.C.). In the 4th Century (B.C.) the Romans were the dominant power on the Italian Peninsula, having defeated the Etruscans and Celts. In the 3rd Century (B.C.) the Romans conquered Sicily, and in the following century defeated Carthage, and controlled the Greece. Throughout the remainder of the 2nd Century (B.C.) the Roman Empire continued its gradual conquest of the Hellenistic (Greek Colonial) World by conquering Syria and Macedonia; and finally came to control Egypt in the 1st Century (B.C.)

The pinnacle of Roman power was achieved in the 1st Century (A.D.) as Rome conquered much of Britain and Western Europe. For a brief time, the era of "Pax Romana", a time of peace and consolidation reigned. Civilian emperors were the rule, and the culture flourished with a great deal of liberty enjoyed by the average Roman Citizen. However within 200 years the Roman Empire was in a state of steady decay, attacked by Germans, Goths, and Persians. In the 4th Century (A.D.) the Roman Empire was split between East and West. The Great Emperor Constantine temporarily arrested the decay of the Empire, but within a hundred years after his death the Persians captured Mesopotamia, Vandals infiltrated Gaul and Spain, and the Goths even sacked Rome itself. Most historians date the end of the Western Roman Empire to 476 (A.D.) when Emperor Romulus Augustus was deposed. However the Eastern Roman Empire (The Byzantine Empire) survived until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD.

At its peak, the Roman Empire stretched from Britain in the West, throughout most of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, and into Asia Minor. Valuables such as coins and jewelry were commonly buried for safekeeping, and inevitably these ancient citizens would succumb to one of the many perils of the ancient world. Oftentimes the survivors of these individuals did not know where the valuables had been buried, and today, two thousands years later caches of coins and rings are still commonly uncovered throughout Europe and Asia Minor. Roman Soldiers oftentimes came to possess large quantities of "booty" from their plunderous conquests, and routinely buried their treasure for safekeeping before the went into battle. If they met their end in battle, most often the whereabouts of their treasure was likewise, unknown. Throughout history these treasures have been inadvertently discovered by farmers in their fields, uncovered by erosion, and the target of unsystematic searches by treasure seekers. With the introduction of metal detectors and other modern technologies to Eastern Europe in the past three or four decades, an amazing number of new finds are seeing the light of day 2,000 years or more after they were originally hidden by their past owners. And with the liberalization of post-Soviet Eastern Europe, new markets have opened eager to share in these treasures of the Roman Empire.

SHIPPING: These antiquities come from a number of collections which by and large originated here in Eastern Europe. As well, additional specimens are occasionally acquired from other institutions and dealers, principally in Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. All of these artifacts are now in the United States and are available for immediate delivery via U.S. Mail. All purchases are backed by an unlimited guarantee of satisfaction and authenticity. If for any reason you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it for a complete and immediate refund of your entire purchase price. A certificate of authenticity (COA) is available upon request.

Our order fulfillment center near Seattle, Washington will ship your purchase within one business day of receipt of your personal check or money order. If you wish to pay electronically, we accept both PayPal and BidPay. However we ask that you PLEASE WAIT before remitting until we have mutually agreed upon method of shipment and shipping charges and you understand our PayPal limitations and policies (stated here). We will ship within one business day of our receipt of your electronic remittance.

A certificate of authenticity (COA) is available upon request. We prefer your personal check or money order over any other form of payment - and we will ship immediately upon receipt of your check (no "holds"). Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."