Ancient Roman Appliqué of the Moon God Mên in a Modern Sterling Silver Pendant
13
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15
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12
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Current bid
€ 47
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 430 - € 500
 | €47 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €2 | |
| €1 |
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This 2nd-century AD Ancient Roman bronze appliqué depicts the lunar god Mên and is set in a modern sterling-silver pendant with a 925 hallmark.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Roman bronze appliqué depicting Mên, the Anatolian god of the Moon. The deity is represented as a youthful male bust facing left, wearing his characteristic Phrygian cap. The remains of the crescent (moon sickle) associated with Mên are visible behind the head and shoulders.
The ancient bronze appliqué has been carefully placed within a smooth, modern silver pendant frame. The reverse remains open so that the original back of the bronze element can still be examined. The bail bears a clearly visible 925 silver hallmark.
The pendant will be delivered in a jewellery box, a perfect gift for any occasion.
Height: ± 50 mm
Diameter: ± 33,7 mm
Culture: Roman Provincial
The appliqué displays a dark brown patina with reddish tones and small areas of green mineral deposits. Although worn, the facial profile, Phrygian cap and lunar attributes remain recognisable.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Mên was an ancient lunar deity whose worship originated in Anatolia, particularly in Phrygia, Lydia and Pisidia. His cult flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, when he appeared on coins, votive reliefs, statuettes and other devotional objects.
Mên is usually represented as a youthful male wearing a Phrygian cap, with the points of a crescent moon rising behind his shoulders. These distinctive attributes symbolised his Anatolian origin and his connection with the Moon. He was associated with the lunar cycle, the passage of time, fertility, prosperity and divine protection.
One of his most important cult centres was the sanctuary of Mên Askaenos near Antioch in Pisidia. Inscriptions discovered there show that worshippers appealed to the god for assistance, protection, good health and forgiveness. His cult represents the fascinating fusion of indigenous Anatolian religious traditions with the artistic and religious culture of the Greek and Roman worlds.
Please note: The bronze appliqué is the ancient component of this object. The sterling-silver frame, suspension ring and bail are modern additions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Roman bronze appliqué depicting Mên, the Anatolian god of the Moon. The deity is represented as a youthful male bust facing left, wearing his characteristic Phrygian cap. The remains of the crescent (moon sickle) associated with Mên are visible behind the head and shoulders.
The ancient bronze appliqué has been carefully placed within a smooth, modern silver pendant frame. The reverse remains open so that the original back of the bronze element can still be examined. The bail bears a clearly visible 925 silver hallmark.
The pendant will be delivered in a jewellery box, a perfect gift for any occasion.
Height: ± 50 mm
Diameter: ± 33,7 mm
Culture: Roman Provincial
The appliqué displays a dark brown patina with reddish tones and small areas of green mineral deposits. Although worn, the facial profile, Phrygian cap and lunar attributes remain recognisable.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Mên was an ancient lunar deity whose worship originated in Anatolia, particularly in Phrygia, Lydia and Pisidia. His cult flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, when he appeared on coins, votive reliefs, statuettes and other devotional objects.
Mên is usually represented as a youthful male wearing a Phrygian cap, with the points of a crescent moon rising behind his shoulders. These distinctive attributes symbolised his Anatolian origin and his connection with the Moon. He was associated with the lunar cycle, the passage of time, fertility, prosperity and divine protection.
One of his most important cult centres was the sanctuary of Mên Askaenos near Antioch in Pisidia. Inscriptions discovered there show that worshippers appealed to the god for assistance, protection, good health and forgiveness. His cult represents the fascinating fusion of indigenous Anatolian religious traditions with the artistic and religious culture of the Greek and Roman worlds.
Please note: The bronze appliqué is the ancient component of this object. The sterling-silver frame, suspension ring and bail are modern additions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
2nd century AD
Name of object
Appliqué of the Moon God Mên in a Modern Sterling Silver Pendant
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2026
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
