• latw-143-1
    Silver pin with pomegranate-shaped head from Ephesus. (Courtesy of the Vedat Nedim Tör Museum, Istanbul)

Silver pin with pomegranate-shaped head from Ephesus

Date
Late 7th or early 6th c BC, Lydian
Museum
Selcuk, Ephesus Museum, 62/41/86
Museum Inventory No.
62/41/86
Material
Silver
Object Type
Jewelry and Ornaments
Site
Ephesus
Description
Silver pin with hollow teardrop-shaped head, divided into four sections by vertical rows of beaded wire (perhaps masking seams in the head), with ring of beaded wire at the tip (Ephesus Excavations Inventory ART 86/K366). Flaring disk between pin and teardrop head, its edge decorated with beaded wire. Length 7.15 cm, diameter of head 1.1 cm, weight 3.6 g.
Comments
Compare the pair of very similar pins, these more clearly pomegranate-shaped, from the Lydian Treasure, No. 180, and a similar example from Hogarth’s excavations at Ephesus (Hogarth et al. 1908, 101, pl. 5, 33; IAM 3003).

From the Artemision at Ephesus, found in trench 421 under the north foundation of Croesus’ temple (for the location of the trench see Pülz 2009, plan 1; on the excavation, Bammer 1988, 1–4, fig. 1–3). Its findspot is situated 5–8 m east of the square limestone “Cult Base D” (see above, No. 19), at the level of an ashy layer that adjoined to the limestone base and contained charcoal, animal bones, pottery and numerous precious votives (on the stratigraphy: Bammer 1988, 2, fig. 1–2; Weissl 2003/04, 189). Together with No. 143 were found a Phoenician ivory sheet with the engraved depiction of a goddess (Bammer 1988, 10–11, fig. 14; Hölbl 1993, 244–249, pl. 22:2; G. Hölbl in: Seipel 2008, 178, cat. no. 134) and three further gold objects (Pülz 2009, 268, 311, 318–319, cat. nos. 237, 421, 461, pl. 23, colorpl. 13). On the dating see no. 19."

See Also
Meriçboyu, “Jewelry”; Kerschner, “Lydians and Ionians”.
Bibliography
Yürük-Planken 2008, 143, cat. no. 57 (the golden color of the silver pin on the photo must be due to digital processing); Pülz 2009, 269, no. 242, pl. 23, colorpl. 13.
Author
MK, NDC