BYZANTINE JEWELRY CONCHO ZN AM DARK RED

Ancient Mesopotamian Concho, 31 x 25 mm, Antique brass plated, 2 rivet pins

The Byzantine Empire (or Byzantium) was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centered on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire, Basileia Rho-maio- or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State. It is today distinguished from ancient Rome proper insofar as the Empire was oriented towards Greek culture, characterised by Christianity rather than Roman paganism, and predominantly Greek-speaking rather than Latin-speaking.