Rock crystal; 2.8 cm
Naples, MAN; inv. 158836
Pompeii
First century AD

 

The insect, lacking one end, is depicted with closed wings and with eyes rendered by two obvious protuberances. Small objects in this material were used as necklace pendants, and originated in Egypt, where they functioned as amulets: this one representing a fly was used, clearly, against those insects.