Jewelry of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptians loved to wear jewelry. Special craftsmen created all kinds of earrings, necklaces, bracelets for wrists and ankles, armlets, rings, pendants, crowns, belts and many other types of jewelry to be worn about the body.
Jewelry was made from all types of precious metals, minerals and gems. Egyptians didn't wear the jewelry just for beauty. They linked certain feelings and some of their gods to various materials used to create the pieces. For example, turquoise was used to mean delight, and all things made out of gold were linked to Ra, the Sun God.
Men, women and children of all social classes wore jewelry during this period of time. Rich people might choose gold where those with little money could have their jewelry made with cooper or less costly metals.
Those creating jewelry also started using glass beads instead of costly jewels in many of their designs. The designers got so good at using glass that people sometimes had trouble figuring out which was real and which was fake.
People think that men wearing earrings is a new thing -- but Pharaoh Akhenaton had statues of royals made back in his day (about 3,400 years ago) that showed the men with earrings in their ears. The earrings shown to the right are a pair that actually belonged to King Tut!
Pharaohs were the only people who could wear the Cartouche -- "The Lucky Charm". It could also be called "The Magic Oval" because that was its shape. Hieroglyphics inside the oval spelled out the Pharaoh's first name. The Cartouche was thought to protect the pharaoh from evil spirits in this world and also in the next.
Here’s something that might make you shiver -- the scarab beetle, yes beetle, was carved out of the most expensive things! Lots of materials were used for making scarab jewelry. Some were: gold, copper, lapis, basalt, turquoise and alabaster. The real scarab beetle (picture at right) is often called a dung beetle because it rolls dung into balls and uses it for food.
King Tut's tomb didn't have just that one pair of earrings inside. Many more fine pieces of jewelry were found buried with the "Boy King". One of them is pictured to the right and is a beautiful scarab beetle. The entire Tut Collection can be found at http://touregypt.net/museum/tut.htm -- it's wonderful. Be sure to check it out!
Although it seems strange, any jewelry with the scarab beetle on it symbolized rebirth. Some say it is because the young scarab beetles would almost jump out of their burrows not long after their birth, and the Egyptians used the scarab beetle as an example of all birth or rebirth.
Actual beetles were found in jars buried along with many of the Ancient Egyptians. The scarab beetle was also a religious symbol. It has been said that this symbol was as important to the Egyptians as the cross is to Christians.
Did you know gods and pharaohs were usually shown in pictures, paintings and sculptures holding or wearing an ankh? Why, because… it was a sign of life. In art, most often when funerals are being shown, the ankh is being held by a loop as if it were a key. It is believed the ankh used would open the gates of death allowing the "keyholder" into eternity.
The statue of Queen Nefertiti that was found in Egypt and later removed and taken to Berlin, Germany depicts an unusual headdress or crown with an ankh attached in the middle of it. Nefertiti is also shown with a wide jeweled collar. This type of collar was very popular during her time and was covered with many brightly colored jewels.
As mentioned above Egyptians didn't just wear jewelry during their life on earth. They were keen to keep a good number of pieces with them in the tomb as well. All kinds of jewelry has been found in the tombs and on the bodies of Ancient Egyptian mummies.
For example, wreaths, crowns, or hair bands might be placed on the head or wig. They might fix different types of ornaments, such as small roses, golden bands or some simple bands of jewelry to the hair.
There were also different types of belts, including waist belts and belts with hanging vertical straps ornamented with colored beads.
Other types of jewelry included earrings, bracelets, anklets, rings, and necklaces have also been found. Any jewelry worn in life, the Ancient Egyptians might take with them as they believed strongly that they would need them in the afterlife.
- Research completed by Lauren G. and Loren A.
