LATE HELLADIC II, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY B.C.

Hoop earrings are known from Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece from as early as the 17th century B.C. A century later, perhaps through influence from Syria, the type was enriched with a fixed granulated pendant, the so-called "mulberry" type. It continued to evolve during the period of Mycenaean domination of Crete, 1450-1100 B.C., into the "super-mulberry," a much larger version, as seen on the example presented here. Similar earrings have been found at several sites in Crete, including Palaikastro and Knossos (see R.A. Higgins, Greek and Roman Jewellery, pp. 62-63, 74-75, and pl. 10d).