Ancient Near East, Assyria or Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 600 to 200 BCE. A stunning bead carved in the round into the form of a pomegranate - the spherical fruit and projecting flower petals at the top, and a suspension hole is pierced through the petal neck. Pomegranates are symbols of fertility throughout the Near East and Mediterranean, playing a special part in Greco Roman mythology, and are a popular motif for ornaments and jewelry throughout these regions. Ivory was a precious material- elephants were imported north into Egypt and Syria for their strength and intimidation as war mounts and their tusks were collected as priceless tributes, workshops creating desirable furniture and jewelry from the ivory, such as this bead. Size: 0.75" L x 0.55" W (1.9 cm x 1.4 cm)

Pomegranates are native to Iran and northern India and were imported into Egypt sometime during the New Kingdom (ca. 1550 to 1069 BCE), where they gained a symbolic reputation as fruits of prosperity and power. Pharaohs, including King Tutankhamen, were often buried with the fruit or representations cast in precious metals. Although special in many cultures throughout the ages, the blood red seeds are perhaps best remembered for their part in the Greek mythological story of the kidnapping of Persephone by the god of the Underworld, Hades. The Fates decided that anyone who consumed food or drink in the Underworld was doomed to spend eternity there, so Hades tricked Persephone into eating six pomegranate seeds. Her mother, Demeter, goddess of fertility, mourned her during this period, which became autumn and winter.

Subspecies of African elephants once lived north of the Sahara in Egypt, but they likely went extinct sometime under Rome's annexation of Egypt - Roman circuses slaughtered thousands of elephants for entertainment. Tusks were then shipped from the south, often passing from Egypt to the Near East. The Syrian elephant, an extinct species of Asian elephants, died off sometime during 700 BCE, perhaps from overuse and shifting climate, however Indian elephants were known to be imported and bred into Assyria during the Seleucid Empire – supplying tusks the wealthy and powerful demanded.

This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece was made prior to 1972.

Provenance: private Boynton Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-Bader Ancient Arts, Paris, France

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#174616

Intact and choice. Some yellow patina and light mineral buildup along flower petals. Suspended on modern thread, but could be restrung as one desired.