Roman bullae
Roman ''bullae'' were enigmatic objects of lead, sometimes covered in gold foil, if the family could afford it. A ''bulla'' was worn around the neck as a locket to protect against evil spirits and forces. ''Bullae'' were made of differing substances depending upon the wealth of the family.Roman boys
Before the age of manhood, Roman boys wore a ''bulla'', a neckchain and round pouch containing protective amulets (usuallyRoman girls
A roman girl did not wear a ''bulla'' per se, but another kind of amulet, called a '' lunula'', until the eve of her marriage, when it was removed along with her childhoodBronze Age Ireland
A small number of ''bullae'' have been found in Ireland; they are called "bullae" based on their resemblance to the Roman form.Other than superficial resemblance, Irish and Roman ''bullae'' have no known connection. The Irish bullae so far found were made of base metalIrish bullae are usually made of lead, but also tin. Bullae made of clay are rare. – sometimes clay – covered with a folded over piece of gold foil. The Irish bullae date to the Late Bronze Age, about 1150–750 BCE. They were presumably worn suspended round the neck with a cord running through the hole below the flat top. The body of the bulla has roughly vertical sides before making a semi-circle or inverted pointed arch at the bottom. The gold is incised with geometrical decoration. Whether they were purely for adornment or had an amuletic or other function is unclear. Despite the small weight of gold used they would have been available only for elite groups.See also
*Notes
References
External links
* https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1872-0604-838-a * https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=roman&keyword=bulla * https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1872-0604-838-a * https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1814-0704-1174 * https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1872-0604-672 * https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1846-0629-13 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bulla Amulets Prehistoric Ireland Childhood in ancient Rome Archaeological artefact types Bronze Age art Necklaces Ancient Roman metalwork