which was highly prized in Egyptian culture as it symbolized the sun and the gods' divine light
antefixes were a spiritual prophylactic against the evil eye and other malevolent influences (the Gorgon head motif was particularly popular in order to scare away such spirits)
Condition: Scattered areas of mineral deposits on the surface
Lapis lazuli
A superb Western Asiatic Gemstone Necklace, ca. 2nd millennium BCE - 1st century CE Islamic which was highly prized inThis stunning necklace brings together the most rare and prized gemstones of the ancient world. It comprises flat rectangular beads, hand carved from red jasper, malachite, breccia, limestone, quartz, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and glass paste, restrung and separated by antique 18K gold spacers. For a related example see Dubin, Lois Sherr, The History of Beads (New York, 1987), 333a c. Dimensions: Necklace length: 15 inches (38 cm) Condition: All beads