Ancient Phoenician Bronze Protective Amulet - Bulla Pendant - 4.5cm - Artifact For Sale

Item Specifics:

• Culture: Phoenician / Punic (Carthaginian influence)

• Era: c. 6th–4th Century BC

• Material: Bronze (with heavy earthen mineral encrustation)

• Object Type: Protective Amulet / Bulla Pendant

• Size: 45 mm

• Condition: Choice Archaeological Grade; features a functional-style hinge and hollow central reservoir for apotropaic contents.

Description:This is an exceptional example of Phoenician metallurgical skill: a protective bronze bulla pendant measuring 4.5cm. Originating from the Iron Age II/III Levant, this piece served as a personal talisman. The pendant features a distinct teardrop or "ovoid" body with a hollowed central chamber, designed to house a protective scroll or a sacred organic substance intended to guard the wearer against malevolent spirits and the "Evil Eye."

The top is fitted with a heavy suspension loop and a structural hinge, characteristic of Punic and Phoenician jewelry found across the Mediterranean trade routes. The surface is adorned with a dense, authentic "desert" patina and localized mineral deposits, testifying to its centuries of interment. This is a significant piece of Levantine history, representing the intersection of ancient maritime trade and personal folk religion.

Comparable Examples:

• The British Museum: Registration Number 1894,0303.11 (Phoenician bronze pendants and amulets from the Tharros excavations).

• Metropolitan Museum of Art: Accession Number 74.51.3168 (Levantine/Cypriot bronze bullae and personal ornaments).

• Louvre Museum: Inventory Number AO 26456 (Phoenician amulets with protective iconography).

Academic References:

• Moscati, S., The Phoenicians, Chapter 10: "Jewellery and Small Bronzes," Paragraph 10.3 (Regarding the protective function of hollowed bullae).

• Markoe, G. E., Phoenicians, Section on "Religious Life and Art," Paragraph 5.18 (Discussion on apotropaic jewelry used by merchants and sailors).

• Boardman, J., The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity, Paragraph 2.45 (On the spread of Punic/Phoenician amuletic types throughout the Mediterranean).