Earring

Reproduction of earrings, the upper part is drop-shaped and the lower part has circular shapes that hang as if it were a bunch of grapes, these earrings are raised on the front and flat on the back.

Jewelry in the Roman world has great importance since it was a symbol of social status and was a means of beautification. Both men and women wore jewelry, although the majority were women, those who wore the most jewelry were the employers and their families, then the patricians and finally the rest of the people. Depending on purchasing power, the jewelry was made of noble metals and precious stones or of rough and cheap materials.

They used metals such as silver, gold, bronze and gems such as pearls, garnets, jet, chalcedony, amethysts, variscites, emeralds and sometimes also vitreous pastes.

The Romans have a great Greek influence in the iconography represented and in the jewelry models, the Greeks absorbed the influence of the Egyptian industry, therefore, indirectly and in some cases directly the Romans also have Egyptian influence.

They make a wide variety of ornaments but the most notable are combs, hair needles, earrings, rings, necklaces, perfume containers, etc. We have to highlight hair jewelry or headdresses, which have great importance at the time indicating social position, the more complex the higher the social level.

The Romans were the pioneers in using the alliance or engagement ring. It began as a simple iron ring until in the second century after Christ it was made of gold. Later Christians took this Roman custom and added it to the marriage rite. Wedding rings are given as a symbol of the cycle of life and eternity and constitute a public promise that the marriage contract will be respected over time.

When the Roman Empire reached its peak, emperors and warriors succumbed to luxury using precious stones and gold without control, on walls, ship sterns and any article of clothing. They also become inveterate collectors.