All three bracelets: Greek, Egypt, 300 - 100 B.C.E. Top: Bracelet with Busts of Isis, 84.AM.851 Gold, Diam.: 2 3/16 in. Lower Left: Snake Bracelet, 84.AM.849 Gold and glass, 2 13/16 in. Lower Right: Snake Bracelet, 84.AM.850 Gold, Diam.: 2 5/8 in.

(From Museum website): "In the Hellenistic period, gold made available by new territorial conquests flooded the Greek world. Combined with social and economic changes that created a wealthy clientele with a taste for luxury, this availability led to an immense outpouring of gold jewelry to meet the demand." "Finials in the form of busts of the goddess Isis decorate the ends of this gold bracelet. Originally worshipped only in Egypt, Isis and her cult spread throughout the Mediterranean in the Hellenistic period. Portrayed here wearing an Egyptian headdress, the goddess was the focus of a mystery cult, which promised a better afterlife to its initiates." (From Museum website): "Spiral bracelets in the form of snakes were very popular in the Hellenistic period. This type of bracelet was worn coiled around the wearer's arm, the continuation of a fashion known earlier in the Classical period. Such slip-on bracelets were always worn in pairs on the wrists or the upper arms." "On this single spiral example, the snake's head turns sharply from the body as if striking, and the inlaid glass eyes add to the lively effect. The goldsmith carefully recreated the naturalism of a snake in the sinuous motion of the looped tail and the texture of the scales on the head and upper body."