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Unknown Maker, Greek

Medallion
Now On View

Maker

Unknown Maker, Greek

Culture

Greek

Title

Medallion

Period

Hellenistic

Year

330-269 BCE

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

garnet, gold, inlay, enamel

Geography

Archaeological Site: Thessaly

Dimensions

Diameter: 7 cm (2 3/4 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Museum Appropriation Fund

Object Number

29.256

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries
Sep 22, 2010

Label copy

This depiction of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, shows a bust in the center of a series of decorated circles ending in nine small gold loops. Medallions like this have been recovered from many places in the Hellenistic world. Scholars are unsure of their exact function. Theories suggest their use as the central piece of a lady’s hairnet or as a small box cover. Although much of the jewelry in this case has clear modern parallels, some pieces, like this medallion, are more difficult to place.

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Greek
Medallion, 330-269 BCE
Gold, garnet; enamel inlay
Diameter: 7 cm (2 3/4 inches)
Museum Appropriation Fund 29.256

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