Shell carved in amber

3D ModelNoAI

Shell carved in amber. 1st century CE. Tumulus of Cortil-Noirmont (province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium). Musée du Cinquantenaire (Brussels, Belgium). Made with CapturingReality.

This object refers to beliefs, superstitions and the hope of salvation of the soul. A jewel fashioned in materials to which the ancients attributed magical and beneficial virtues. The deceased of Cortil-Noirmont had brought small objects, jewels and an amber shell to the tomb. The amber shell is decorated with a winged capricorn carrying the funeral urn between his hooves. The rite of depositing these objects in the tombs was introduced in Gaul by the Romans.

For more updates, please consider to follow me on Twitter at @GeoffreyMarchal.