Central Asia / Silk Road, hunnic AE pendant in Byzantine style

Hunnic AE (bronze) pendant in Byzantine style from Central Asia / the Silk Road reflects the rich cultural fusion along the trade routes connecting the East and West. Such artifacts were influenced by Hunnic, Sogdian, Persian, and Byzantine artistic traditions

Key Features

• Material and dimensions: Bronze (AE = Aes, Latin for bronze). 2.07 g, 27.5 – 28 mm
• Cultural Influence: A blend of Hunnic nomadic motifs with Byzantine Christian or imperial styles
• Iconography: Imperial Figures resembling Byzantine rulers. A female and a male figure, probably a couple
• Function: Likely used as an amulet or status symbol, worn by Hunnic elites influenced by Byzantine culture

Historical Context

• The Huns and Hephthalites had extensive interactions with the Byzantine Empire, trading luxury goods and even serving as mercenaries
• Byzantine-style metalwork, including pendants and belt ornaments, was highly valued among Central Asian nomads
• Found along the Silk Road, such artifacts demonstrate the exchange of art, culture, and religion between the Hunnic world and the Byzantine sphere

Fully preserved loop. Some heavy sandy deposits on the reverse

Choice VF. Extremely RARE

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