Roman Rock Crystal Tortoise Amulet

With slender wire shank formed into a knot for the bezel, blue glass seed beads to the shoulders and a gold collar with applied granule detailing. 0.99 grams, 17.07 mm overall, 15.75 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F 1/2, USA 3, Europe 4.3, Japan 4)



From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s.

The oval intaglio with Mars Ultor and Minerva facing each other; Mars to the left with a spear in raised left hand, armed with helmet, armour and sword, his right hand resting on the shield beside him; Minerva to the right, wearing a helmet, shield and aegis. 0.87 grams, 14 mm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.

Mars Ultor and Minerva were both linked with Roman war imagery. Mars represented military power, the strength of the army and violence in battle, Minerva strategy, tactics and intelligence in war. All these qualities were complementary and necessary to win the war. The gemstone was probably a gift for a soldier.

The intaglio with a donkey (mule?) grazing, body facing right; Latin inscription on the verso ‘EVM’ (him). 0.98 grams, 12 mm



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection.

Donkeys were used by the Roman army from circa 200 B.C. but mules, the hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, were to become the most important working animals for the military and were used to pull heavy artillery such as catapults. It has been estimated that there were probably half a million mules serving in the Roman army by the time of Augustus (31 B.C.-A.D. 14). DNA studies have now shown that mules may have comprised up to 50% of the equids in the Roman Empire. The use of pack-mules for the army continued in the Eastern Roman army until the fall of Constantinople.