Amulet

Art Historical Context

This delicate lapis lazuli am, crafted around the 1st century, hails from the Ancient Near East and exemplifies the region's enduring tradition of protective jewelry. Measuring just 1 inch (2.54 cm), it was likely worn as a personal talisman, strung on a cord or necklace to safeguard its owner from evil spirits, misfortune, or disease—a common practice in Mesopotamian, Persian, and cultures during the late Hellenistic era. Lapis lazuli, a vibrant deep-blue stone sourced primarily from Afghanistan's Badakhshan mines, held immense symbolic value in antiquity. Revered as a celestial material aki...