Necklace

A necklace (Latin: monile) is a female neck ornament known since antiquity. There are necklaces made of gold,silver and precious alloys. Necklaces were extremely popular with Greek and Roman wealthy women,and were richly decorated with precious stones. Also in Latin,there is a mention of the synonym of the word monile-Lat. catella,literally meaning chain-decoration.

There are a large number of archaeological finds that have come down to our days. Due to the high cost and,as a result,careful attitude,as well as the fact that they were made of non-ferrous metals,many antique copies have come down to us in excellent condition. Below are the archaeological finds and their reconstructions by our master Minacia Polla.

Form and Materials

A monile (Latin monile) is a necklace or neck ornament. In ancient dress such objects could be made from bronze, silver, gold, glass beads, stone, bone, and organic materials. Their form depended on the owner's status, local fashion, and purpose: everyday adornment, grave goods, or display of wealth.

Wearing Context

In women's dress a necklace worked together with earrings, fibulae, bracelets, and hairstyle. In male and military contexts neck ornaments are less common and require especially careful source control. For reconstruction it is important to choose not just an attractive object, but an ornament appropriate to region, date, and social role.

Literature

• A. T. Croom, Roman Clothing and Fashion.
• Maureen Carroll, Spirits of the Dead: Roman Funerary Commemoration in Western Europe.
• Martin Henig, A Handbook of Roman Art.

Related topics

Women in Ancient Rome,Fibula,Rings,Earrings

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