Ancient Egyptian beads from Oxyrhynchus dated 30 BC – AD 395

Irregular shaped glass beads, roughly globular. 20 in blue, 4 in green and 6 in clear glass. The latter having been coated internally, possibly with a silver or gold colour to give the illusion of precious metal. The beads have been spaced to a design, two elongated green beads in the centre front, with a clear glass bead either side, then blue beads, then a green bead flanked on either side by clear beads, then more blue beads. The beads are strung on cotton or linen thread, which may original. The stringing has been reinforced by modern plastic thread.

Ancient Egyptian beads from Oxyrhynchus dated 30 BC – AD 395

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1905.68.18
  • Material: glass
  • Period: Roman Period
  • Excavator: B.P. Grenfell
  • Dated: 30 BC - AD 395
  • Object name: beads
  • Dimensions: Length: 106mm , Length: 15mm , Width: 8mm
  • Published references: Grenfell B P & Hunt A S Egypt Exploraton Fund Archaeological Reports 1902-1903 pp.7-8
  • Site: Oxyrhynchus
  • Latitude: 28.531
  • Longitude: 30.647