Achaemenid Empire, Snake Headed Silver Bracelet (60mm)

Includes glass top display box.

This silver bracelet dates back to the Achaemenid Empire, and features the heads of two snakes facing each other. The wrist size of this bracelet suggests that it may have been meant for a child.

Bracelets with snake headed terminals such as this are well documented in museum collections around the world. A museum quality example can be found in the digital galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, though theirs is a slightly later Seleucid piece from the same region.

The Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE, marked the first great Persian Empire and became one of the largest empires in history. Stretching from the Indus Valley to the Balkans, it encompassed various cultures, religions, and languages, and thrived under the principles of tolerance and efficient administrative systems. After about two centuries, the empire's decline began with a series of revolts and was hastened by the ambitious conquests of Alexander the Great in the late 4th century BCE. Within a relatively short span, the mighty Achaemenid Empire crumbled, making way for the rise of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire.

The bracelet's outer diameter is 60mm and its inner diameter is 54mm.

Please note that wearing ancient jewelry is discouraged due to the risk of damage, as well as harmful additives like lead possibly being present in the metal.

All purchases include a Certificate of Authenticity. You will receive the exact item in this photo, along with a glass top leatherette display box.