This gold jewel of the Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki (MTh 22558) was found in tomb 15 (plot M. Hadjialexandrou) of the organized cemetery that is spreading around the ancient city of Lete.

Tomb 15, which is a rock-cut tomb in natural ground with white mortar walls, contained the burial of a little girl. The pendant was one of the many offerings, namely gifts that accompanied the prematurely dead girl: gold and gold-plated jewellery, copper mirror, alabaster, lead vessel, iron tools, natural ankles and clay pots.

The golden pendant is maintained intact, is internally hollow and consists of two metal plates forged on an embossed pattern that are welded vertically to the sides. A circular cross-section hoop is attached to the top of the head, which is passed through another thin chain link made with wire in loops. The upper part of the chain ends up in a hanging ring from which it was probably attached to the neck with a linen cord.

The female face is dominated by the large face features and the high smooth forehead. The large almond-shaped eyes frame the relatively narrow eyelids, the nose is thin and straight whilst the lips are fleshy. The thin and tall neck carries a necklace which is made of wire decorated by engravings. The hair is divided in the middle over the forehead and are tied at the back of the head. The bottom part of the sculpture is sealed by a golden sheet.

The necklace and earring parts in a shape of a human head - and especially female - are found, as early as the 5th and 4th centuries BC, relatively often in ancient goldsmiths and in several regions of the ancient world: in Etruria, in Taranto in southern Italy, in Cyprus, in the Mesembria-Thrace Zone, in the Panticapaion of Crimea, and in other locations on the northern coast of Black Sea. A similar head, made from a different mould, was found in the recent excavations of Nea Filadelfeia in Macedonia.

Since all the relevant findings are tomb offerings, it’s quite likely that the pendant belongs to goddess Venus, who is associated with the notions for the protection of the dead and especially of women in the Underworld. The figure of the goddess is often depicted in the jewels of the Hellenistic era.

Dated: early 3rd century BC

You can see the exhibit in the permanent exhibition The Gold of the Macedon, showcase 57.