BEAUTIFUL ANCIENT GOLD MYRTLE LEAF CROWN OR DIADEM MAKE AN OFFER OTHER ITEMS IN STORE THANK YOU Start Price USD 7,495.95 Current Price USD 7,495.95 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, September 02, 2008 End Time Friday, September 12, 2008 Location Kansas City, Missouri See more about 'BEAUTIFUL ANCIENT GOLD MYRTLE LEAF CROWN OR DIADEM' Description   If there ever was a piece that represents the epitome of ancient art it would be the wreath /diadem /crown / Corona ,often seen in collections of ancient art representing royalty , leadership , victory , love , honor and death   BEAUTIFUL RARE ORNATE ANCIENT GOLD MYRTLE LEAF CROWN CROWN , DIADEM, HAIR WREATH PLUS EXTRA PIECE VERY RARE AND COMPLETE PLUS AN EXTRA PERSONAL ADORNMENT SMALLER WREATH FOR POSSIBLY HAIR ,Bracelet OR Equipment adornment CENTER ORNAMENT SIDES ROSETTES -FOIL MYRTLE LEAVES ON ON A THICKER SHEET GOLD BAND -AND GOLD WIRE ATTACHMENT 24kt GOLD LARGE PIECE MEASURES approx 14 1/2 inches around -368 mm SMALLER PIECE approx 5 1/2 inches around --139.7 mm 25.4 mm equal an inch DATING APPROX 1ST CENTURY BC OR EARLIER   NOTES -on myrtle leaves -wreaths used -examples found   myrtle has long been associated with Venus and love . Aphrodite is often shown wearing a myrtle-leaf wreath in her hair, and during the Roman festival of Venus Verticordia (Venus the Heart-Turner) on April 1, women bathed in water scented with myrtle and wore myrtle wreaths. Myrtle is also protective. The nymph Daphne escaped being raped by Apollo by turning herself into a myrtle tree with her father's help. The Romans were in the habit of creating and wearing wreaths and garlands to signify an honor received, an event celebrated, or a ritual observed. As usual they adapted an old Greek custom to their own tastes, creating a strict hierarchy of crowns for military honors that was carefully outlined by law. Interestingly the lowest and highest degrees of military coronae were made of the simplest plant materials rather than gold and precious jewels. The corona ovalis was made of myrtle leaves and was awarded to generals whose achievements in war merited an ovation only, such as a conquest over slaves or pirates, or in a non-declared war In ancient times the myrtle was a fertility symbol, and wreaths of the leaves were worn at various Greek festivals. The Romans used the leaves culinarily and to flavour wine. They are still used today as an alternative to bay leaves in marinades and stews, particularly in Sardinia. VII. Corona Ovalis was another crown of less estimation, appropriated solely to commanders. It was given to those who merely deserved an ovation, which happened when the war was not duly declared, or was carried on against a very inferior force, or with persons not considered by the laws of nations as lawful enemies, such as slaves or pirates; or when the victory was obtained without danger, difficulty, or bloodshed (Aul. Gell. V.6; Festus, s.v. Ovalis Corona); on which account is was made of myrtle, the shrub sacred to Venus, "Quod non Martius, sed quasi Veneris quidam triumphus foret" (Aul. Gell. l.c.; Plut. Marcell. 22; cf. Plin. H. N. XV.39; Dionys. V.47). The myrtle crown is shown in the woodcut annexed, from a medal of Augustus Caesar. Article by Anthony Rich, Jun. B.A. of Caius College, Cambridge on pp359-363 of William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.: A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875 Myr'tle, a beautiful evergreen shrub or moderate-sized tree, with glossy leaves, black berries, having a pleasant, spicy odor and white flowers. This is the common myrtle, which is native to the countries of the Mediterranean. Among the ancient Greeks the myrtle was sacred to Venus as the symbol of youth and beauty. Victors in the Olympian games were crowned with wreaths of its leaves. It was frequently used at festivals, has frequent mention in poetry, and reference is made to it in the Bible. The Greeks used myrtle for their dead, EXAMPLES FOUND GOLD MYRTLE LEAF CROWNS / DIADEMS There are several examples of wreaths in Sotherby's and christies magazines This is one I found that is Myrtle leaves A Roman gold Diadem Circa 1st-2nd century AD "composed of three pointed foil leaves" Christie's April 28th 2004 **ANCIENT gold wreath same type myrtle leaves 1400 BC–1200 BC Greek World, Peloponnesus, Mycaenae Gold MET.VS.01047 virtual egyptian museum 4cm. (1.6 in.) - 9 g. (.3 oz.)   **Myrtle wreath, gold, Greek/Macedonian, 4th century B.C., H 12.5 cm. × W 23 cm. × L 27 cm. J. Paul Getty Museum, 93.AM.30. ***hong kong heritage museum -Gold wreath with myrtle leaves and berriesEtruscan, 400-300 BC                     private collection If not happy may return for full refund................. check,money order or paypal will combine orders. 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