Since gold is an extremely ductile and malleable material, goldsmiths could use hammering, embossing, and chasing techniques to make a portrait with it. This is a unique piece, since no other like it has been found, and it is poorly documented, having been discovered by chance. Despite a lack of contextual information, it is almost certain that such a luxury item belonged to a king or an important dignitary.
Era: about 50 C.E.
Substance: gold.
Dimensions: 19 x 18 x 8.5 cm.
Text: Michel Fortin (p. 201).
Photography: Jacques Lessard.
Collection of the National Museum of Damascus.
Michel Fortin, Syria, Land of Civilization. Les Éditions de l'Homme, Musée de la Civilisation de Québec 1999.
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