Gold-plated bracelets with rams' head terminals

From Tomb 73 at Kourion (modern Episkopí), Cyprus
About 450-400 BC

Reflecting the Persian style

These bracelets, made of gold-plate, were probably made locally on Cyprus, but reflect a Persian style. Other Cypriot examples are also of gold-plate or of gilded silver.

The rams' heads were made in two halves and the eyes were perhaps originally enamelled. They show some chased detailing and a ring punch was used to delineate the fleece. The heads are joined to the hoops by collars decorated with tongues of sheet gold and attached by copper alloy rivets, perhaps concealed by gold caps. The hoops have copper alloy cores covered by gold plating.

Earlier examples of this type of bracelet, made of both silver and gold, are known from northern Greece and Greek cities on the Black Sea Coast. However, they were also produced in Persia, where the tradition had been inherited from Mesopotamia and Elam. It seems more likely that the Persian style was imitated independently by all the countries concerned. Cyprus was part of the Persian empire from 526/5-333 BC.

D. Williams and J. Ogden, Greek gold: jewellery of the c (London, The British Museum Press, 1994)

V. Tatton-Brown, Ancient Cyprus, 2nd ed. (London, The British Museum Press, 1997)