Melon bead

130MA
Melon bead
Rhodos
Date: 2-1 century BC
Monochrome glass

Spherical body with eight longitudinal ribs. Transparent glass with greenish tint.
Intact, good condition, iridescent glass.
Height 11 mm, diameter 12mm

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. 76
For similar published examples see also:
- Ve´ronique Arveiller-Dulong, Marie-Dominique Nenna.  Les Verres antiques du Musée du Louvre III : Parure, instruments et éléments d’incrustation, Paris, Éditions du Louvre, Somogy, 2011, p. 218: #298-23
- Alexeeva E.M. Antichniye busi severnogo prichernomoriya, Academy of Science, Moscow, 1978, table 33: 49.
-- D.Nenna, Exploration archeologique de Delos, 32: Les verres, Paris, Athenes, EFA, De Boccard, 1999, pl.53: E137