ITEM: Pendant with Helios
MATERIAL: Gold and silver
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 2nd - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 25 mm x 18 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 2000s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 4 to 6 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the amount of the sale, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Helios was a prominent deity in both Greek and Roman mythology, representing the personification of the sun. In Greek mythology, Helios was often depicted as a handsome and radiant god driving a chariot across the sky each day, bringing light and warmth to the world. He was the son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia and was revered as one of the Titans himself. Helios was associated with various aspects of the sun, including its daily journey, its life-giving energy, and its ability to illuminate the heavens and the earth.

In Roman mythology, Helios was known as Sol, and his attributes and characteristics closely mirrored those of his Greek counterpart. As Sol Invictus, the "Unconquered Sun," he was worshipped as a powerful and invincible deity, particularly during the Roman Empire. The cult of Sol Invictus gained prominence during the late Roman Republic and reached its zenith under Emperor Aurelian in the 3rd century AD, when Sol became an official state god and was celebrated with lavish festivals and ceremonies.

Helios/Sol was often depicted in art and literature as a majestic figure crowned with a radiant halo or aureole, riding a chariot pulled by fiery steeds across the sky. He was sometimes portrayed with a golden sun disc or a radiant solar crown, symbolizing his divine power and authority over the sun. Temples and shrines dedicated to Helios/Sol were erected throughout the Greco-Roman world, where worshippers paid homage to the sun god through prayers, offerings, and rituals.

Good condition

2.5 x 1.8 cm