Roman Intaglio Pendant | Pan, god of the wild

Date: c. 1st - 2nd Century A.D.
Bezel: 14k Gold
Weight:  3.67 grams
Diameter: 21 mm / .82 inches

Description

This item is an authentic Roman intaglio, placed in a handmade bezel of 14 karat gold. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

Jasper, an opaque variety of chalcedony, was favoured for its earthy red, brown, and green tones and its smooth, fine grain, which allowed for precise engraving. These gemstones were carved in intaglio—a technique in which the design is cut into the surface of the stone, creating a recessed image. When pressed into wax or clay, the carving produced a raised seal impression, functioning as a kind of personal signature used to authenticate documents and mark ownership.

The intaglio depicts Pan, the rustic god of the wild, music, and pastoral life. Here he appears in full figure, rather than in portrait bust, allowing his goat legs, horned head, and lively posture to be fully expressed. This form emphasizes his untamed, playful nature, characteristic of satyrs in Greco-Roman art.

Pan’s mythology associates him with wooded valleys, flocks, herds, and moments of spontaneous joy. He is the master of the syrinx (panpipes), whose music could enchant, unsettle, or inspire. In Roman glyptic imagery, his presence symbolized:

• Vitality and natural energy
  
• Fertility and instinct
  
• Freedom from constraint or convention
• Humour, sensuality, and irreverence
  

Unlike deities of the civic pantheon, Pan was a god of the margins: forests rather than cities, music rather than rhetoric, instinct rather than order. To choose Pan as one’s seal was to signal a spirited personality, a love of nature, or an embrace of life’s pleasures and unpredictability.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

You will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.

Roman intaglios come from across the vast territories of the Roman Empire, spanning from the 1st century B.C. through the 4th century A.D. These finely carved gemstones were most often produced in workshops in Italy — particularly in Rome itself and in regions like Campania — but also in provincial centers such as Alexandria, Antioch, and Ephesus, where skilled artisans combined local traditions with Roman tastes. They were typically carved from hardstones such as carnelian, jasper, amethyst, garnet, and nicolo, using copper drills, abrasives, and delicate hand tools to produce miniature works of art.

Many examples have been found in graves, hoards, and ancient villa sites across Europe and the Mediterranean. They were most commonly set into signet rings used to stamp personal seals into wax or clay, serving both as jewelry and as an identifier of status, profession, or family. Because gemstones are durable and resistant to corrosion, intaglios often survive in near-perfect condition even after two millennia underground. Today, most come from archaeological discoveries and well-documented collections, while others appear through reputable dealers and auctions. Each engraved gem carries a distinct personal history — once belonging to a Roman citizen, soldier, or official — preserving a direct link to the artistry, symbolism, and private life of the ancient world.