The History and Meaning of Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Ancient Egyptian jewelry represents a long history of divine craftsmanship by a people we continue to be intrigued by.  Egyptian art and jewelry was never just art, but represented a deeper meaning, which even today baffles archaeologists.

The rarity and exquisite nature of Egyptian jewelry was not only reserved for women, but men as well. Both men and women wore the Ancient Egyptian jewelry, and these personal adornments were not just limited to beaded necklaces and finger rings.

Jewelry such as anklets, collars, bracelets, fillets and earrings embodied everyday Egyptian dress, so much so, that even in death the poorest of individuals would still be found wearing a string of beads or a simple bracelet.

Excavations and grave robbing in the Saqqara Necropolis has turned up loose beads and trinkets from the mass graves and tombs of the ancient Egyptians.

In fact, these loose beads are often picked up by local merchants and sold to gullible tourists.

Why the Ancient Egyptians Wore Jewelry?

The Ancient Egyptians wore the ornamental jewelry for many reasons, however the more fundamental reason and purpose was to guard them from mysterious hostile forces. For many of us, we sometimes require the assistance of a necklace with a teardrop crystal, a tiger’s eye, a rabbit’s foot, a hemp bracelet, or a type of precious stone to make us feel safe. The Ancient Egyptians did the same, only most of the adornments worn were crafted out of stone. Such talismans might consist of turquoise and lapis lazuli and carnelian, all representing a facet of nature such as the green of spring, the blue of the sky, or the orange or beige of the desert.

The Meaning of Gold in Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

The use of gold in Ancient Egyptian Jewelry simply represented the flesh of the gods, the fire and glory of the sun, and the very idea that the luster of the gold was never lost, therefore an eternal sense of being.

The Meaning of Shells in Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

The shells of fresh water sea life were used to craft bracelets and necklaces for both men and women. The cowrie shell, which has an indented lip, looks like the slit of an eye. Egyptians believed this shell to be a prophylactic against the evil eye. This belief is still head true in parts of Africa and the Mediterranean. In fact, in recent times the Nilotic women wear the cowrie shell around their pelvic area to risk aborting a child.

Funerary Collar of Wah

www.metmuseum.org


This is a Middle Kingdom Dynasty 12 Funerary Collar of Wah from the Early reign of Amenemhat I. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Wah's faience broad collar (40.3.2), anklets and bracelets (40.3–.10) were made as funerary ornaments for the burial and were found in the layer of wrappings closest to the body. The broad collar is one of the finest examples of its type from the early Middle Kingdom. Although a few areas needed reinforcing with modern thread, the stringing is almost entirely original.

Tutankhamun's Scarab of Lapis Lazuli

http://blog.ivman.com


This piece of Egyptian jewelry is from the tomb of Tut-ankh-amun (Tutankhamun).

A scarab of lapis lazuli with falcon wings, supporting a red disk of the new-born sun.

Pectoral scarab worn by King Tut-ankh-amun

http://www.ancient-egypt.co.uk

This piece of Ancient Egyptian jewelry is a rebus pectoral scarab worn by King Tut-ankh-amun from Thebes. It symbolizes the birth of the moon and the sun and was part of the king's coronation regalia.

Faience floral collar of the late XVIIIth Dynasty

Source

This piece of Egyptian jewelry is a faience floral collar of the late XVIIIth Dynasty. This piece is typical of the Amarna Period and was made with cheaper materials including flowers, leaves, and ephemeral papyrus. Since they were less expensive and less time consuming to create, many times they were gifted to guests at parties, banquets, and weddings.

Pectoral of King Senusret II from the tomb of Sit-Hathor Yunet

Source

This piece of jewelry is a pectoral of King Senusret II from the tomb of Sit-Hathor Yunet, daughter of Senusret II.

Crown of Sit-Hathor Yunet

Source

The crown of Sit-Hathor Yunet was used as a wig ornament and adorned with gold and inlaid gold with carnelian, lapis lazuli and green faience. The original piece sits in Cairo, along with the golden tubes that were woven into her hair.

Broad Collar from  Dynasty 18 worn during the reign of Thutmose III

Source

This is a Broad Collar from  Dynasty 18 worn during the reign of Thutmose III 1479-1425 BCE. It is gold inlaid with carnelian glass, from the tomb of the three minor wives of Thutmose III, Thebes. The king's name is inscribed on the backs of the falcon-headed terminals indicating that it was a gift from him to his wife By the New Kingdom, broad collar necklaces were the most frequently worn pieces of jewelry among the royalty and elite in ancient Egypt (Met Museum, 2013)


Author Note: This article was published on a partner site Knoji several years ago by Ancient Digger, but I felt like it should have a place on this site as well. Enjoy!

Monday Ground Up: Travel to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Guest Article By Caroline Allen

 I was secretly thrilled as I peered upon the embellished commemoration mask of Tutankhamen. It occurred to me that the thrill of the American archaeologist Howard Carter must have been much more when he discovered the mask in the Valley of the Kings back in 1922. Mainly because this mask was found in the place of the czar, intact, in the burial chamber of Pharaoh himself, together with an immeasurable treasure, and many other useful objects and adornment.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo keeps 1700 pieces from the tomb of Tutankhamen. The mask of Tutankhamen, an impressive piece of headwear made of 11 kilos of gold and decorated with other precious metals, is that which is given a large share of prominence across the Egyptian Museum. The face on the mask has an almost blank stare, almost distant and empty. The man pictured, supposedly, is that of Pharaoh himself. Incidentally, all the Pharaohs followed this trend: their masks crafted and portrayed as accurately their faces, so that in the time of the hereafter, their souls would easily recognize their bodies.

The Egyptian Museum is at the heart of Cairo, very near the Nile in Midan Tahrir Square, where in early 2011 thousands of people marched out in revolution to successfully overthrow the president, in power for 30 years.

The authorities have discussed whether to transfer the museum to a new building that is close to the popular tourist territory of the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza. So far research has revealed that it could take up to ten years to be transferred, so for now, the centennial museum remains, which opened in 1902, and has since then seen many major renovations.

The building is clean, though some would regard it as being old-fashioned and inappropriate, compared to what is expected today from such a museum of international standing. It seems like one of those classic museums of the Tintin books, with many exhibits of various sorts on pedestals, in wood cabinets and behind glass doors. Very few of the exhibits have labels or are identified. The exhibition rooms are very high and expansive, dimly lit, with cluttered closets and boxes that randomly showcase many ancient parts and even more antiquities. The guides say that the museum's collection includes over 100,000 pieces of Egyptian art, although only 12,000 of them are on display. This apparent mass stock pile may have contributed to the disappearance of some of the items stored, which were stolen by an isolated gang of opportunist thieves during the revolution of early 2011.

Nevertheless, visitors enjoy a trip to the museum. I explored the huge colossus of Akhenaten, the pharaoh who was the chief wife Nefertiti and the colossus of Amenhotep. Also at the museum are statues of the rich Prince Rahotep with his wife Nohet, and the fantastic wooden statue of Ka-Aper. This statue from the old kingdom, was discovered made out of wood, is noted for the expression on his face and the depth of the gaze. The eyes have an outline of copper, while the white of the eye is made of quartz crystal, and the corneas of transparent stone, perforated, having been stuffed inside with putty to mimic the life of an eye.

Moreover, the exhibition holds a host of mummies. Visiting a mummy is an experience that provokes uncommon feelings. There are several exposed mummies, quite a few pharaohs, in all different ranges of conditions, yet still astonishing for their age. Traditionally they have all been dead for over 3000 years. The complex technique of embalming is impressive; it was developed by the ancient Egyptians, who relatively succeeded in allowing for their pharaohs to continue surviving through death for probably more than an additional three millennia. Perhaps the most notable of them is the mummy of Ramses, which was discovered in the late nineteenth century.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, which is more commonly known as the Egyptian Museum, is open from 9am to 6pm, though the guards like to anticipate the closing time activity and allow the visitors a considerable amount of time in advance to vacate. The ticket costs 60 Egyptian pounds, but the visit of the royal mummies in the room requires an additional ticket for an additional 100 Egyptian pounds (which at current is about 10 British Pounds), though international currency conversions fluctuate over time.

Due to recent political activity it is recommended to research the conditions of Cairo and obtain suitable trip holiday insurance.

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The Art and History of Ancient Egyptian Jewelry


Egyptian jewelry is among some of the most rare and exquisite pieces of ancient history and archaeology every found. Both men and women wore the Ancient Egyptian jewelry, and these personal adornments were not just limited to beaded necklaces and finger rings. Jewelry such as anklets, collars, bracelets, fillets and earrings embodied everyday Egyptian dress, so much so, that even in death the poorest of individuals would still be found wearing a string of beads or a simple bracelet.

• Image Credit [http://luxortoday.com/]
• Image Credit [http://www.vagabonding.com/]

Egyptian Museums Reopen after Limited Theft and Damage

After the uprising in Egypt that precipitated the unexpected downfall of the Hosni Mubarak regime, much of the country was left in chaos. Though the protests were generally peaceful, and the world over is celebrating the victory of the Egyptian people's mass protests, many archeologists, anthropologists, and cultural and art enthusiasts feared the worst for what is one of the most established museum sites of ancient history in the world.

After conflict in Iraq in 2003, looters devastated the country's museums and artifact collections, and it would not have been surprising if the same had happened in Egypt. Astonishingly, however, museums suffered little damage, and while some artifacts were stolen, Egyptian Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass said in an interview with the German newspaper Spiegel International that many items were returned.

Hawass noted:

(Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass during the Feb. 16 press conference. He says that many of the items that were stolen on the night of Jan. 29 have now been recovered.) AFP


"Imagine a city with millions of residents where complete lawlessness reigned for several hours. Where the prisons were opened and there were actually no more police. That is what happened in Cairo on the evening of Jan. 29. A lot more could have been robbed and destroyed in this horror scenario What happened in Cairo could also have happened in New York, in London, in any museum in the world. As I said, considering the circumstances it is a miracle that more was not stolen."

According to an AOL news article, much damage and looting was mitigated because protesters and military both conscientiously joined together to protect Egypt's many museums and historical sites, in one instance forming a human shield around the Egypt Museum. The director of another historical hotspot, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, sent a special thanks to the country's demonstrating youth, who played a big role in the protection of the library's historical collection.

Hawass reports that only about 18 items were missing from the Egypt Museum, and some objects were found scattered in different places in the city. Tombs at Saqqara and Abusir, as well as storage areas at Cairo University, had also been broken into, although the total accounting of lost or damaged items has not yet been reported. An earlier Washington Post article noted that antiquities experts were working hard to restore the damage done to some 70 items in the Victorian-era Egypt Museum.

According to Hawass, the most important item damaged was a statue of King Tutankhamen standing on a panther. Removed from the panther, the figure of the boy king was also missing its arm.

It will certainly take some time for tourism, among Egypt's most lucrative industries, to pick up to the levels it had experienced before the uprising. However, as of Sunday, February 19th, the Egypt Museum along with many others throughout the country, have officially reopened, with understandably poor attendance.

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Ancient Egyptian jewelry is among some of the most rare and exquisite pieces of ancient history every found. Both men and women wore the Ancient Egyptian jewelry, and these personal adornments were not just limited to beaded necklaces and finger rings.

Jewelry such as anklets, collars, bracelets, fillets and earrings embodied everyday Egyptian dress, so much so, that even in death the poorest of individuals would still be found wearing a string of beads or a simple bracelet.

Read more about the history of Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Egyptian Art and Greek Mosaics

This essay explores the differences and similarities between Greco-Roman Byzantine art, and ancient Egyptian paintings, in both their subject matter and rendering. Ancient Egyptian art had a very original look to it. If you see Egyptian art, you're going to know what it is. People are shown completely from the side, with the eye full-on towards the viewer. People were also very dis-proportioned, on purpose, depending on what their social status was. A good example of this is in a painting of workers bringing gold and gifts to a Pharaohs' resting place, where all of the workers are much, much smaller than the Pharaoh. Religion was very important to Egyptians, who practice polytheism, meaning they worshiped many gods. Anubis, the God of embalming, Osiris, the God of death, Ra, the God of the sun, Geb, the God of the Earth, and other well-known Gods appeared heavily in works of art.

Read More: Egyptian Art and Greek Mosaics

Contributed by Johny Jr