Mosaic eye

250EA
Mosaic eye bead
3-1 century BCE
Rhodes

Rod formed, wound, blue matrix. Three eyes of sliced mosaic cane with cross-section of turquoise ring around blue center.
Intact, very good condition. 
Max diameter: 11 mm
Height: 8 mm

During the excavation of an ancient house in the city of Rhodes (1966-1967), a large amount of debris from a glass factory was recovered. The main production was evidently devoted to bead-making. Thousands of beads were discovered and the similar beads were among them. See full report in:
- G. D. Weinberg, “Glass Manufacture in Hellenistic Rhodes,” Archaiologikon Deltion 24 (1969), pp. 143-151, pl. 79 a; pl. 84 c.

For similar beads see:
- Alexeeva E.M. Antichniye busi severnogo prichernomoriya, Academy of Science, Moscow, 1975, table 15: 24-27.