Picenian Janus Bull Amulet

Culture: Picenum

Period: 7th century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 6.8 cm long

Price: Sold

Ref: 4101

Provenance: US private collection Julius Carlebach (1909-1964), New York. Thence Royal Athena Gallery, New York, with inventory number CJ0104. On 13 January 2001 sold to the US Hollywood agent Jeff Hunter (1926-2018). Accompanied by a copy of the original invoice.

Condition: Intact

Description: Heavy, massive cast bronze amulet depicting a janus bull. The heads facing in opposite directions, each with high and backward bent horns. The bulls’ faces stylized with pointy snouts. The four legs of the amulet straight and relatively short. On the back a pierced hump for suspension. The Picentes were contemporaries of the Etruscans and settled on the upper Italian Adriatic coast. There is little known about them due to the small number of archaeological artefacts. The people experienced its peak in the 6h to 5th century B.C., when it was able to benefit from the trade between the Etruscans and Greek. 400 to 350 B.C. the empire noticeably decayed, 268 B.C. Picenum was finally conquered by the Romans. Mounted.