Necklace with Amulets
Ancient Mediterranean
1st-4th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
50.2 × 3.2 cm (19 3/4 × 1 1/4 in.); Diam.: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.)
Classification
glass
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
65621
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Initially affordable only among the wealthy, glass was used in ancient Rome to create tableware and containers for oils and perfume. Glass was also used in jewelry as an economical substitute for more expensive precious or semi-precious stones. This necklace also includes magic amulets, believed both to ward off evil and to guarantee good luck.