The lion's protective nature is well documented in myth and poetry, having the role as a guardian figure in sacred spaces. Lion statues and carvings adorn the entrances of palaces and tombs, as protectors against malevolent or evil spirits and forces. Such guardianship extends to the protection of knowledge and wisdom. In libraries and universities lion statues often flank the entrance, symbolizing the role of these institutions as guardians of knowledge and protectors of intellectual pursuits.
The original snarling horned and winged lion roundel that inspired this charm was found at Hamadan at Tepe Hagamatana - the site of ancient Ecbatana and summer residence of the Achaemenid kings - and is dated between 550-330 B.C. The lion, worked in gold repousse, is a tribute to the exceptional skill of Achaemenid goldsmiths. The back of its body and the slender twisted wire that surrounds it bear sixteen tiny loops for attachment to clothing or other textiles. This original beautiful roundel is held at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago.
Contemporaneous Greek historians often spoke of the incredible wealth of the Persians, and Herodotus wrote that King Xerxes' troops were "adorned with the greatest magnificence...they glittered all over with gold, vast quantities of which they wore about their persons."
This charm is carved from Ataléia rock crystal from Brazil, which is noted for its exceptional clarity, and gilded with gold leaf. The chain is available separately.
One-of-a-kind.