This is the rating and price for Greek Early Hellenistic 18K Gold Earrings - 4.6 G

Description : Greece, Early Hellenistic, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. A striking pair of 18K gold earrings, both with the hoop showing a tightly scrolled pattern, perhaps conjuring imagery of coiled snakes, and a fabulous bull head terminus comprised of hammered sheet with filigree and repousse details. Notice the marvelous rendering of the animal's fur coat, beady eyes, and pointy horns. The bull has a significant history in the ancient world, with representations from every culture, ranging from the Minoans to the Egyptians, as well as the Greeks and Romans. See the extended description below for more on the role of the bull in ancient societies. Size: .75 W x 1.25 H (1.9 cm x 3.2 cm) The bull was considered a divine animal throughout antiquity - a meaningful symbol of the moon, fertility, rebirth, and power. We find the earliest depictions of bulls in Paleolithic cave paintings. Moreover, the veneration of the bull in Anatolia would influence several religious cults in antiquity: from the practice of bull jumping in Minoan Crete, to the fervent worship of the Apis bull in Egypt, to the sacrificial practices of Roman Mithraism. In Greece, mythological stories about Theseus and the Minotaur and Zeus and Europa were rooted in Cretan culture. In the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, for example, the Athenians were required to send young men and women as offerings to King Minos of Knossos where they would be sacrificed to the raging Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Theseus traveled to Knossos on Crete and slayed the Minotaur in order to free the Athenians. In the legend of Europa, Zeus arrives in Crete assuming the form of an elegant white bull, then transforms into his human form and fathers three sons on Europa, one who would become King Minos. Another example of the importance of bulls to Greek spiritual life was the bull-cult ritual in Greek rural communities. These were sacrificial and usually held in caves. The bull was customarily identified with a deity, usually Dionysos, Zeus, or Poseidon, and the sacrifice of the animal symbolized the god’s death and rebirth. In addition, Dionysos was sometimes represented as a hybrid man-bull form with horns and was honored at fertility festivals. Furthermore, a bull sacrifice was also part of the Eleusinian mystery cult of Demeter and Persephone. Given all these associations, it is no wonder that the bull was a popular figure in visual culture. Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #129092
Price: 871.50 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 1200 USD-1900 USD It's free to register now to view!

Details