ROMAN GOLD PENDANT WITH CARNELIAN INTAGLIO DEPICTING HERACLES FIGHTING THE NEMEAN LION Ca. AD 100 - 300. A gold pendant with carnelian intaglio that illustrates a classic theme from mythology: Hercules strangling the Nemean lion. Both Hercules and the lion are depicted in a highly naturalistic style. Behind Hercules is a large wooden mace, which is a distinctive symbol of the Greek hero. The intaglio is set in a gold frame with large hoop on the top. For similar see: Entwistle Ch. and Adams, N., ‘Gems of Heaven’: Recent Research on Engraved Gemstones in Late Antiquity, c. AD 200–600, fig. 5a-d p. 52, Faraone. Size: 23mm x 12mm; Weight: 2g. Provenance: Private UK collection; previously acquired on the Swiss art market in the 1990s. This piece is accompanied by an authentication statement by Sami Fortune, ancient jewellery specialist.