The Phoenicians were pioneers in glass bead production, creating highly prized items that were widely traded across the Mediterranean and beyond. Their advanced techniques enabled bold designs with striking colors and intricate motifs, such as faces, animals, and geometric patterns.
Inspired and influenced by the Phoenicians, Celtic artisans crafted glass beads with vibrant colors and intricate patterns, showcasing their creativity and skill. The Celts favoured bold motifs, including the 'Evil Eye,' spirals, faces, and zigzags in shades of blue, green, and yellow. The Celtic designs often symbolised status, spirituality, or personal identity. The intricate patterns and vibrant colors reflected the wearer's social standing or beliefs, with some designs possibly linked to nature or cosmic elements.
Celtic burials throughout Europe have revealed face beads. According to Strabo, the Celts venerated the human head above all else. For the Celts, the head was the soul, centre of emotions, as well as of life itself, a symbol of divinity and the powers of the other-world.
The 'Evil Eye' motif, believed to ward off malevolent gazes, dates back over 5.000 years. This design was prevalent in Mediterranean cultures and appeared in Celtic mythology as a talisman. Archaeological finds across Celtic sites in Europe feature 'Evil Eye' beads, reflecting their widespread use and spiritual importance
