Mounted in a stunning 18 karat gold pendant.

Gem engraving is a miniaturistic art form whereby designs are cut into or on the surface of a gem. Intaglios, gemstones with an incised design below the surface of the gem, were made as early as the fourth and third millennia B.C. In Mesopotamia and the Aegean. However, it was in ancient Greece and Rome that the expressive and aesthetic language of gem engraving was truly born. The classic artisans carried engraving to an artistic level higher than ever seen before, borrowing their diverse themes from epic poetry and famous legends of gods and heroes.

In this stunning example, created during the later classical revival period, we see spirited beauty and remarkable craftsmanship displayed in a carnelian intaglio depicting the Roman god Mars. One of the twelve Olympian gods, known as Ares to the Greeks, this powerful god of war loves battle for its own sake, never favoring one city or party more than another. However, he has not always been victorious in his pursuits, for Athena has twice beaten him in battle. The stunning image of Mars on this masterfully carved intaglio does depict him in a victorious pose, however. Mars stands holding winged victory in his right hand while his left hand grasps a spear. Flanking his image is a flaming altar and his battle shield. The detailed and exquisite rendering of this powerful god is truly a testament to an age-old tradition, begun thousands of years ago and continuing down through the ages. Framed in a regal gold pendant, this classical revival intaglio radiates a bold presence, not unlike that of the ancient god himself.