Lot 38C
Roman Empire, Roman province of Judaea, ca. 800 BCE. Carved in the likeness of a pomegranate from a stunning peachy pink hued stone, possibly sardonyx (shoham in Hebrew - a pink stone associated with one of the 12 tribes), a very rare amulet perforated from top to bottom for suspension. The pomegranate fruit is highly symbolic in the Jewish tradition, representing righteousness and oftentimes directly related to the Temple. During Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year), it is customary to consume many pomegranates, because this special fruit is said to contain 613 seeds, one for each commandment of the Torah. Size: .75" L x .625" W (1.9 cm x 1.6 cm)
The word pomegranate is rimon in Hebrew and derives from the Latin words "pomum" meaning apple and "granatus" meaning seeded. Pomegranates have grown in the Mediterranean region for several thousand years, and this fruit is rich in symbolism with specific mentions in the Bible. Judea province was the site of major unrest at the time of its founding in 6 CE during the Census of Quirinius, and several wars known as the JewishRoman wars were fought during its history. In 70 CE the Temple was destroyed as part of the Great Jewish Revolt. This resulted in the institution of the Fiscus Judaicus, and the Roman Emperor Hadrian changed the name of the province to Syria Palaestina and Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina after Bar Kokhba's revolt (132135), which some scholars argue was an attempt to remove the relationship of the Jewish people to that region.
Provenance: private Orange County, California USA collection acquired before 2000
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#122366
- Condition: Chipped in antiquity. Otherwise excellent.
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| $200,000 + | $25,000 |