Lot 73 A ROMAN CAMEO OF WOLF AND TWINS, 1ST CENTURY AD

A agate cameo showing the twins Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she wolf. The quintessential subject of 'Romanitas' through the history of Rome, from Republic to Empire. The image was associated with being Roman and was understood by all, hence its popularity through history. Even after the fall of Rome and the Western Empire the symbol was used by the Ostrogoths who understood the symbolism. Here the cameo is encased in a gold mount and has two mounded rings soldered to the back to make a toggle for a necklace or bracelet, another possibility being that it was worn on a cloth or leather strap.
22 by 16 mm.
Weight: 4,76 grams PROVENANCE
Private collection, Belgium since 2000s