The history of jewelry from Egypt

Ancient Egyptians are very well known all overrepresentatives of the ancient Egypt took to the
the world for their remarkable jewelry, especiallytomb a large series of jewelry pieces like crowns,
the ones discovered from the period of thewreaths, rings, ear-rings and imposing necklaces,
Middle kingdoms reign. Egyptians startedwhich were all placed on their mummified bodies.
manufacturing jewelry during the Badari andAs a particularity, the vest that ancient Egyptians
Naqada eras from natural materials, such asused to wore around their chest, has not been
stones, wood, and then becoming moreseen anywhere else in other ancient civilizations. It
sophisticated, made of pealed bones or braches,was made of pure gold, and sometimes
and starting to paint them with varioussurrounded with other precious stones. Ancient
substances. Their purpose was primarily religiousEgyptians used to make the vest even before
and symbolic, often being a bit extravagant andthe gold era, making it from other materials that
were being worn by women and men alike. Thethey used to color in golden shades to make it
most common symbol that was found from thelook like gold.
ancients is the Ankh which was meant toAround Christianity period, and the time that
represent eternal life. Some of the other symbolsfollowed, most jewelry were made of cheaper
include the lotus flower, the falcon and the humanmaterials, but all incrusted with Christian symbols
eye, representing the healing process.such as crosses, pigeons, a branch leaf, and the
The art of jewelry-making started to flourish withancient Ankh sign. After the arrival of Islam in
the start of the Middle Kingdom, when pharaohsEgypt, men were prohibited from wearing
decided to express themselves better throughjewelry, especially ones made of gold. However,
gold objects. Egyptians started to master thethey were allowed to wear silver ones. Not a lot
technical methods of cutting semiprecious andof the ancient jewelries were recovered, since
precious stones with a sleek accuracy. Because ofthe artifacts were brutally ravished by thieves
the regular missions to Nubian regions as well asand the amount of gold from the ancient tombs
Eastern Desert ones, Egyptians became more andwas stolen. Still, what remained are true works of
more sophisticated in stone sculpturing, bringingart and they are cherished at their real value, as
from these regions not only gold, but silver,should.
turquoise and agate as well. Pharaohs and high