Roman Entalle; Roman Empire, 1st-2nd century AD.

Roman Entalle; Roman Empire, 1st-2nd century AD.
Carnelian.
Measurements: 16 x 12 mm.

Oval-shaped pendant with a faun's head in profile, surrounded by a pseudo-spiked border incised on the edge.

The figure of the faun, linked to the Dionysian sphere and the rural world, was a recurring motif in Roman glyptics, inherited from the Hellenistic tradition. Associated with fertility, nature and festivity, its image was widely accepted in both private and symbolic contexts.

The presence of a pseudo-spiked border frames the composition and responds to decorative resources common in Roman workshops, intended to reinforce the ornamental character of the piece. The carvings with mythological representations were frequently set in signet rings, used as a personal badge and as an instrument of documentary validation within Roman society.