From the point of view of jewelry, no empire was ever richer in tradition than that of the Byzantines, as evidenced by this extraordinary pair of ornamented gold earrings. Within this remarkable empire there existed a co-mingling of artistic traditions, ranging from the classic realism of ancient Greece to the abstracted aesthetics of Persia and the east, neither approach ever completely dominating the arts. Rather, the jewelry of the empire reflects a successful blending of traditions, with works of art that display a spirited vitality and individuality that is timeless in its ability to please the senses. A bejeweled splendor became part of the ritual of the Byzantine court and was duly imitated throughout the empire. Indeed, one can just imagine these striking earrings, with their intricate, granulated and banded gold patterns catching the ancient light and at the same time brightening the spirits of the wearer. To behold these unique gold earrings today is to capture some of that ancient brightness, its radiant beauty timeless and magical.