The princess was the daughter of Senusret II. Her tomb was discovered in 1914 near her father's pyramid in El Lahun. Although the tomb was looted, a cache of fine jewelry and toiletries was discovered in a niche. In the center of this openwork pendant is a cartouche of Senusret II on the figure of the god of eternity Hekh. More than 370 parts were used for inlay.
Pectoral of Princess Mereret. Around 1840 BC e.
Mereret was the daughter of Senusret III and the sister of Amenemhet III, and her burial was located on the territory of her father's pyramid complex. The burial preserved a rich inventory, including excellent jewelry, including this openwork pectoral (breast decoration).
Around 1840 BC e. Gold, amethyst.
The belt belonged to Princess Mereret, daughter of Senusret III. It consists of amethyst beads and golden panther heads, connected in pairs. The panther was the embodiment of the divine principle and the protector of people.
Diadem of the princess Sat-Hathor-Iunit Around 1800 BC. e. (reign of Amenemhat III)
The owner of this masterpiece of jewelry was one of the daughters of Senusret II
Scourge of Princess Neferuptah. Around 1800 BC e. (reign of Amenemhat III).
Queen Ahhotep's bracelet
Around 1530 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise, glass
Queen Ahhotep's bracelet
Around 1530 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise
Treasures of the wives of Thutmose III
Around 1504 - 1450 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, glass
Sandals and bracelets come from the burial of the three wives of King Thutmose III - Menkhet, Merti and Menvai
Queen's headdress
Around 1504 - 1450 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, glass
Reconstruction of the head decoration and hairstyle of the queen - one of the wives of Thutmose III
Bracelets and earrings
15th - 14th centuries BC e.
Gold
Although earrings have been known since the 5th dynasty, they came into fashion only in the 18th. They were worn by both men and women
Warlord Jhuti's Heart Scarab (abdomen)
Around 1450 BC e.
Warlord Jhuti's Heart Scarab (back)
Around 1450 BC e.
Large necklace in the shape of a cobra. Fragment
14th century BC e.
Gold; coinage
Mirror frame “Ankh” or “Cross of Life”
14th century BC e.
Wood, gold, colored glass paste; inlay
Found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun
Incense box
14th century BC e.
Found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Made in the form of a double scroll, inlaid with colored glass paste
Necklace
Around 1400 BC e.
Faience
The main motif of this beautiful necklace is pomegranate buds and flowers
Beads
Around 1375 BC e.
Necklace depicting sacred scarab beetles
Around 1350 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, green feldspar, calcite, glass
An example of "baroque" trends. Characteristic of some items from the tomb of Tutankhamun
Pectoral in the form of a sacred scarab beetle
Around 1350 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, turquoise, feldspar, lapis lazuli
The beetle was considered a symbol of rebirth and immortality. He was often depicted rolling a ball of dung in front of him, which was associated with the rising sun.
Pectoral with the image of a divine bird - a falcon. Fragment
Around 1350 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise
The god Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, is represented in the form of a falcon. In the bird's claws are hieroglyphic signs of eternity (shen) and life (ankh)
Pectoral with the image of a sacred scarab beetle surrounded by royal uraei and floral ornaments
Around 1350 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, carnelian, glass
Pectoral with scarabs and floral designs
Around 1350 BC e.
Here are the symbols of the Moon (god Thoth) and the Sun (god Ra).
Beads
Around 1340 BC e.
Polychrome faience
The golden throne of Tutankhamun. Rear view
Made by artisans of Akhetaton, the capital of Egypt under Pharaoh Akhenaten. On the back of the throne are depicted royal uraea, plants and birds from the banks of the Nile
The golden throne of Tutankhamun. Side view
Late 18th Dynasty (c. 1333 - 1323 BC)
Wood, gold leaf, colored glass, enamel, semi-precious stones; inlay
Bracelet with amulet "udjat"
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, glass
Bracelet with scarab
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, quartz, turquoise, carnelian
The scarab (“kheper”) was considered a symbol of the morning sun, with which the deceased king was identified. The very color of blue lapis lazuli meant eternal life
Necklace detail (counterweight clasp)
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Necklace detail (pectoral)
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Pectoral necklace
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, feldspar, resin
Necklace with a pectoral in the form of the goddess Nekhbet
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, obsidian, glass
Pectoral in the form of a falcon
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise, obsidian, glass
Pectoral with winged scarab
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, silver, carnelian, lapis lazuli, calcite, obsidian(?), turquoise, glass
Rings
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
The rings depict one of the most important deities of the Egyptian pantheon, whose cult was restored by Tutankhamun after 17 years of oblivion under the “heretic” pharaoh Akhenaten. This is Ra-Horakhty, which means "Ra-Hor of the horizon"
Buckle
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold
Earrings
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, quartz, calcite, faience, glass
The earrings were in a cartouche-shaped casket. In the center of the composition are birds with a duck head and falcon wings forming a ring. Birds hold "shen" ("infinity") signs in their paws. The pendants end in uraei.
Funeral mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (3/4 perspective)
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold leaf, blue glass paste, turquoise, lapis lazuli, enamels; inlay
An idealized portrait of the pharaoh, covering the head and shoulders of the mummy over the shrouds
Amulet from the tomb of Tutankhamun
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gilded wood, carnelian, feldspar
Amulets
Around 1325 BC e.
Jasper, faience, gold
The following amulets are presented (from top left to right): wand "was", "ankh", papyrus stem "waj", pillar of Osiris "Djed". In the center - "tit" ("Isis knot")
Mummy overlay in the form of a bird “ba”
Around 1325 BC e.
Gold, semi-precious stones
Bracelets of Ramesses II
Around 1290 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli
These excellent bracelets were accidentally discovered during the construction of the railway near Tel Basta (ancient Bubastis), in the cache of a temple that was once located here. Vessels made of gold and silver were also kept there.
Diadem
Around 1190 BC e.
Gold
The tiara is a hoop on which 16 rosettes are attached, forming a wreath. On the rosettes there are the names of Seti II and his wife Tausert, from which we can conclude that the diadem belonged to the queen
Amulets: "udjat", heart, "tit", pectoral with scarab
14th - 6th century BC e. (18th - 26th dynasties)
Faience
Bracelet with scarab beetle clasp
Gold, carnelian turquoise, feldspar, lapis lazuli
Stacked bracelet with a scarab clasp. Fragment
Gold, amethyst, semi-precious stones
National Museum
The stacked bracelet features alternating rows of scarabs and Wadjet eyes, separated by gold balls. The clasp is made in the form of an amethyst scarab in a gold frame with images of uraei.
Necklace with finials in the form of a falcon's head. Fragment
Gold, colored paste
Each pharaoh during his lifetime was considered an incarnation of Horus, and after death - his father Osiris
Necklace with images of a vulture and a cobra
Pectoral necklace with images of the goddess Nekhbet in the form of a vulture and the goddess Wadjet in the form of a cobra. The vulture and cobra represent Upper and Lower Egypt respectively and symbolize their unity under the rule of the pharaoh
Pectoral with sister goddesses Nephthys and Isis. Fragment
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, glass
The sister goddesses Nephthys and Isis crouched on the sides of a large scarab. The solar disk, scarab and urea make up the formula for the resurrection, the reviving pharaoh in the afterlife
Pectoral depicting the sky goddess Nut
Gold, enamel; embossing, carnelian
The winged arms of the goddess are outstretched in a protective gesture. The hieroglyphic inscriptions embossed on the plate have the meaning of charm spells. The name of Tutankhamun appears several times, however, the name of Akhenaten was originally inscribed in the cartouches
Pectoral depicting a sacred scarab beetle surrounded by royal uraei
Gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, carnelian.
This decoration was suspended on long strings of beads with inlaid clasps, the shape of which often repeated the decorative elements of the pectoral itself.
Pectoral with images of a large winged scarab and the goddesses Nephthys and Isis
Gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, paste, enamel
Decoration
Gold, carnelian, turquoise, glass
National Museum
The goddess Nekhbet in the guise of a vulture, wearing the crown of Atef, shades with her wings the pharaoh, wrapped in the robe of the god of death Osiris
Decoration
Gold, carnelian, turquoise, colored paste; inlay
To the left of the eye of Horus is the patroness of Upper Egypt, the goddess Nekhbet (Vulture), to the right is the patroness of Lower Egypt, the goddess Wadjet (Cobra).
Decoration with the wish that the deceased king be granted eternity. Fragment
Gold, carnelian, colored paste
In the center is the figure of the goddess of eternity Gaia, supporting the eye of Horus; on either side of it are two cobras crowned with disks; symbols located along the edges mean infinity of time
Uraeus of Senusret II
Gold, precious and semi-precious stones
Uraeus was discovered near the pyramid of Senwosret II in Illahuna (Fayum oasis). It may have been stolen and lost by robbers. This wonderful piece of jewelry was part of the real royal insignia
Earrings with Egyptian crowns
3rd - 2nd century BC e.
Gold, semi-precious stones, glass 
Medallion depicting Isis and Serapis
222 - 180 BC e. (reign of Ptolemy IV or Ptolemy V)
Gold
Bracelet
Late 1st century BC e.
Gold, glass
Ring with the image of the god Sebiumeker
Late 1st century BC e.
Gold, glass
The Meroitic deity Sebiumeker is depicted with a beard, wearing a double Egyptian crown
The wide necklace and temple facade are a typical decorative motif of Meroitic art. Identification of the ram-headed deity remains in doubt
Ring
About 70 n. e.
Gold
The ring is made in the shape of a coiled snake with busts of Isis and Serapis at the ends of the tail. Such decorations are not uncommon in Fayum portraits.
Beads with lunula pendant
2nd century AD e.
Gold, amethyst, pearl
The crescent-shaped lunula pendant was common as an amulet in female mummy portraits from the second half of the 2nd century
It is possible that already in the primitive communal system, women wore jewelry: a necklace made of animal fangs, a hat made of fox skin and pterodactyl feathers. There was little choice in those days. The stone was only suitable for an axe. In the Bronze Age, items were made small, so they came out more beautiful.
The inhabitants of Ancient Egypt also passed through these stages of primitive luxury. During the time of the pharaohs, the art of jewelry reached an unusually high level. Some simple jewelry was also worn by the lower strata of citizens. Pharaohs, kings, queens, their relatives, as well as the nobility of those times, not only wore luxury jewelry made of gold, silver, and precious stones during their lifetime, but also took them with them to their graves. It is there that they are found today, and we can admire examples of ancient beauty.
Material for decorations
Of course, first of all, precious stones were used - gold, silver, and secondly - lapis lazuli and other rare and well-processed and beautiful stones. Gold is top of the list, but this does not mean it was fetishized in Ancient Egypt. Gold was respected for the beauty of the product, and not for its monetary value. But the artistic value of jewelry was the highest, which is why in the modern world some jewelry companies specialize in producing rings, bracelets, and signet rings “inspired by Egypt.”
Therefore, jewelry made of gold from Ancient Egypt was worn by everyone in this ancient country - from the pharaohs to the common people. The fact is that on the territory of the state of the pharaohs and priests there were gold deposits in several deposits in great abundance, so there was plenty of it for the needs of the country.
Another thing is surprising: iron was valued there more than precious metals. This simple material, as it seems today, was used not only for everyday life and military needs, but also for hair care items and other hair decorations. They were mainly used by women, since men often had shaved heads.
Bracelet of Queen Ahhotep, 1530 BC. Material - gold, turquoise, lapis lazuli, glass
Iron was often taken from meteorites that fell to earth. Zinc and other materials were smelted from the same extraterrestrial mass. And everything went, first of all, to decorations.
The masters of jewelry in this country knew how to make a magnificent luxury out of a piece of gold. Moreover, the current followers of the ancient craftsmen are not far behind, so to speak, in terms of the jewelry fittings used: the locks of pendants, necklaces, and loops of bracelets were similar. They are functionally the same, but more elegant, since technology has come to the aid of master hands.
On one bracelet about ten centimeters long and consisting of two fastened halves from the same Cairo collection of treasures, fifteen loops were counted. They served to enter each other through one and were intended to reveal decorations on the hands or feet of the nobility.
Today, having special machines for cutting and soldering thin metal, it is quite easy to cut and gracefully bend twenty or even more loops at this length. But then all this was done manually. Real craftsmen!
Necklace. Material – gold, turquoise, carnelian
Products made of gold prevailed. The Egyptians were among the first on the Planet to understand the importance of such material for jewelry during the life of the earthly gods-pharaohs and when they were in the other world. As in modern countries, few coins were made from gold; almost all the reserves were used for jewelry. For coins, another “stainless steel” was enough - copper, bronze, and later nickel.
Moreover, there was so much gold in one piece of jewelry that one could wonder: how was it worn? For example, in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities you can see the necklace of the pharaoh of the 21st dynasty from Lower Egypt (Sharqiya Governorate), which weighs as much as 8.6 kilograms! A man’s neck, of course, is stronger than a woman’s, so he wore it. But, as the chronicles say, he wore it only on ceremonial occasions. This treasure was found in the tomb of its owner.
In Ancient Egypt they knew how to not only melt gold and silver and cast it into various shapes specified by the jeweler. What color is gold in today's jewelry? A strange question, you say: of course, gold, that is, yellow color with various shades according to its sample. The Egyptians knew how to transform their own gold into various colors and shades: almost white, pink and even green.
Silver was also widely used to make jewelry in royal Egypt. His jewelers either used this pure metal or varied silver and gold, mixing their melts into an artificial metal - electrum, with the external luster of argentum, but similar to platinum. The pharaohs really liked it for this shade. Such a mixture of gold and silver often occurs in the depths, and then native electrum is obtained from them. Today, such a mix is almost impossible to obtain artificially. Apparently some additional component of the Egyptians has been lost.
Jewelry color scheme
The above-mentioned color scheme was used by jewelers from the land of the pharaohs. To dilute the color, smalt was added to gold and silver - molten enamel obtained from silicon derivatives, reinforced with metal salts. That's how strong the Egyptians were in chemical physics or physical chemistry.
The color was mostly blue-blue. Smalt had a property - visible depth. The Egyptians called this effect the divine glow. Therefore, there were more such inserts into jewelry than others. Paint of this color is used today by artists to coat household ceramics and tiles. The modern name is cobalt.
Thus, Ancient Egypt passed the baton of using smalt and various enamels in later times - to Byzantium, Europe, and Kievan Rus. But not only for decorations, smalt was most often used in the manufacture of stained glass windows and mosaics for churches.
In jewelry, the entire composition was evaluated, and not any individual part or metal. The Egyptians had not yet “grown up” to rubies, diamonds, and sapphires. Therefore, simpler minerals were used for inserts: malachite, carnelian, rock crystal and others.
The role of jewelry: secular, religious, sacred
The types of modern jewelry are similar to those of royal Egypt, which indicates where they came from to Europe. Earrings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, rings were there too. But many species were purely Egyptian, so they remained within its borders. These are large chest compositions, tiaras, and many other decorations for the head and hair.
Special headdresses were made from precious metals for the pharaohs. A fabric cap was worn underneath them so that the metal would fit the head more tightly, leaving only the ears exposed. You won’t envy such a bearer of gold and silver. True, the “hat” was worn only on special occasions.
Uraeus - a decoration-amulet in the form of a snake on the headdress of the pharaohs
Remember the drawing of the bust of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti. On the head is not a simple cap or bonnet, but a golden cylinder-turban. Other queens wore headdresses made of gold, jewelry and smalt.
The decorations of royal Egypt were mostly of a sacred nature. Residents believed that gold and silver jewelry and precious stones with divine power would save them from troubles - wars, famine, natural disasters (earthquakes, floods of the Nile).
Therefore, on jewelry from museums around the world, in addition to deities, what appears at first glance is a simple dung beetle. Lives wherever there is a dung heap. This is our amateurish observation. And only the Egyptians looked further. The beetle, along with invented deities, lived on earth and became a symbol of royal Egypt. Depicted on jewelry.
What did the black beetle do to deserve respect? Among the genus of scarab beetles there is a species - sacred scarabs. This is a revered symbol of Ancient Egypt! In nature, he orients himself by the Sun, Moon and stars. She rolls a ball out of manure and rolls out the offspring in it until the scarab beetles come out.
An image of a scarab is placed in the graves of Egyptian nobles on the heart of the mummy, including those found on Tutankhamun.
On the jewelry there is another image - the eye of Horus or the eye of Horus, surrounded by curlicues. The composition has six components. Is it that simple? Nothing of the kind. In addition to the divine principle, mathematical fractions are encrypted here - from 1/2 to 1/64. They are used to measure the weight of bulk solids. Smart ancient Egyptians! They carried a simple adding machine.
Tags: ,Jewelry art in Ancient Egypt reached a high level of development, which is well known thanks to large-scale archaeological excavations on its territory.
Several factors contributed to this development. First of all, there were several large deposits of gold in Egypt, which made this material accessible; in addition, the inhabitants of the land of the pharaohs attached sacred significance to jewelry. That's why Absolutely everyone wore them, regardless of gender, age and social status. The imagination of ancient Egyptian craftsmen, embodied in jewelry, gave birth to real masterpieces, many of which famous jewelry houses are still trying to imitate.Materials and jewelry techniques
Ancient Egyptian craftsmen mastered many techniques for making jewelry from a variety of materials. Most often, jewelry in Ancient Egypt was created on the basis of gold, of which there was no shortage. With the help of special additives, jewelers could change its color in a wide range from light to green.
Gold was valued primarily for its picturesque appearance rather than for its cost. For example, a much rarer and more valuable metal was iron, which was also used in jewelry to make combs and hair decorations.
Ancient Egyptian jewelry was created from silver mined on the territory of the kingdom, as well as from electrum. This material was an alloy of silver and gold, resembling platinum in appearance.
The Egyptians did not yet know precious stones such as rubies or emeralds; instead they used ornamental stones: amethyst, carnelian, garnet, as well as lapis lazuli, which was especially highly valued. Rock crystal was loved in Egypt. For the poor, it was replaced by transparent or colored glass and small beads, which served as the basis for many bracelets and necklaces. Ordinary people also used ceramics covered with multi-colored patterns.
The Egyptians loved bright and saturated colors, so jewelers often used techniques such as smalt and enamel in their work. Bright, multi-colored pastes were popular for coating materials for decoration. Apparently, the favorite colors in Ancient Egypt were turquoise, green, white and blue. Probably, such shades looked quite impressive on dark skin.
Jewelry of Ancient Egypt often took on bizarre forms. These could be floral patterns repeating the curves of grape leaves, daisy flowers, cornflowers, etc. By the way, real flowers were also often used as decorations, albeit short-lived ones. Products made of metals, bones or ceramics could take the form of animals: birds, snakes, frogs, dragonflies, giraffes, horses. Images of the scarab beetle, which was considered a strong amulet, as well as jewelry in the shape of an eye, heart, or snake head were popular. The latter was considered a symbol of the power of the pharaoh.
Often, jewelry of Ancient Egypt, in particular medallions, was painted. This could be a portrait of the owner of the jewelry, images of gods, or entire miniatures. The imagination of the ancient masters was not limited to this.
Types of decorations
The Egyptians knew almost all types of jewelry which are still in use today. The most popular accessory was perhaps necklaces, worn by both women and men. They were made from gold plates, beads or pendants of various shapes. The traditional decoration of Ancient Egypt was the uskh, the so-called sun necklace, which was attached to a leather lining and resembled a collar. The pharaoh's uskh could weigh several kilograms; this item was often used as a reward for distinguished commanders and officials.
Bracelets, which could be made from a variety of materials - from bone to beads, were incredibly popular among both women and men. They wore bracelets on their forearms, wrists and legs. Women's anklets were sometimes decorated with bells, which rang melodiously as they walked, causing women to move smoothly and softly. Often bracelets - men's and women's - decorated with the Eye of Horus, which served as a talisman and protected the owner from evil spirits and misfortunes. Jewelry was often assigned magical and religious properties, which is why various talismans and amulets were common in Egypt.
Rings were also worn by both sexes in Ancient Egypt. The only difference could be that male officials often used signet rings with initials and symbols. Earrings were also common, especially in the form of rings and circles - symbols of the sun. Pendants of various shapes, as well as chains, were attached to them. As a result, the weight of the earrings could be so impressive that it deformed the earlobe of the person wearing them, however, this did not bother the Egyptians at all.
During the excavations, such ancient Egyptian jewelry as belts made of gold plates were also discovered. They were not available to all residents of the ancient kingdom, which cannot be said about numerous hair decorations and headdresses. The nobility used combs and pins made of expensive iron, while less wealthy people used combs made of bone, which could be decorated with stones or glass. Gold jewelry and chains could be woven into natural hair and wigs. They were also decorated with hoops made of different materials. Pharaohs, for example, wore a golden diadem - uraeus, in the middle of which there was an elegant snake ( Uraeus- an accessory to the royal attire of the pharaohs, which was a vertical, sometimes highly stylized image of the cobra goddess Wadjit, the patroness of Lower Egypt, attached to the forehead. An image of the kite goddess Nekhbe, the patroness of Upper Egypt, was often placed next to the uraeus.).
Since the Egyptians believed in an afterlife, jewelry was also given to the dead. For funeral ceremonies, special medallions were made in the shape of scarab beetles - symbols of resurrection and life. They can now be seen in many museums around the world, along with other works of jewelry from Ancient Egypt.
The human ability to decorate has been known since ancient times. They tried in every possible way to decorate not only houses and temples, but also their own clothes, as well as their bodies. And in this regard, ancient Egyptian jewelry is considered the most skillful, the design of which is still looked at with admiration by jewelry professionals today.
According to historical information, jewelry began to be made in Ancient Egypt around 3100 BC. Moreover, these decorations spoke not only about the social status of the owner, but also had other important signals. All segments of the population owned jewelry, which indicated their sacred meaning for every citizen. Among the jewelry known are bracelets, rings, and earrings. However, lapis lazuli jewelry was considered the most valuable.
Symbolism in Ancient Egyptian Jewelry
Egyptian jewelry was primarily symbolic and reflected its significance in terms of religious images. Almost all products depicted magical symbols, images of gods, animals and various hieroglyphs. In terms of their significance, such products were supposed to play the role of protecting ancient people from evil spirits and the evil eye.
However, there were other jewelry that were not related to religious cults, but were used as a seal. Such rings were worn by men, and the seal was considered the original signature with legal force. Rich men owned expensive and exquisite rings with intricate designs and precious stones. They were often painted with images of hawks or lions. Lower class owners had copper or silver rings on their hands.
It is obvious that for the ancient Egyptians jewelry did not have the same value as it does today. They believed more in magical power and reinforced the value according to their position. The products were protected from evil influences, bad moods and, oddly enough, even from physical violence.
As for the forms of jewelry, these were the various deities that the Egyptians believed in. Among them, the scarab was of particular importance, symbolizing forward movement and great vitality. Indeed, if you look at its fast movement across the sandy expanses, you can be convinced of the great mobility and dynamism of the scarab.
Scarab beetle in Egyptian jewelry
According to Egyptian traditions, the scarab beetle was a symbol of the sun god Ra. Therefore, various bracelets, pendants, rings and necklaces with the image of a scarab were worn by absolutely all Egyptians, regardless of their class. This was allowed to everyone and every resident treated such decorations with great respect. Due to the fact that there were many such items, and confusion could arise, the Egyptians indicated the name of the owner of the jewelry on the lower surface of the item.
Egyptian precious jewelry
The preciousness of ancient Egyptian jewelry was indicated by stones, and these were precious and semi-precious samples. Among them, carnelian, amethyst, chalcedony, jasper, feldspar, malachite, turquoise and quartz were used. Faience was especially revered by the Egyptians. In color, this is a green-blue glass product, which was made from quartz and lime.
Some of the precious items were worn on the shoulders, wrists and ankles. For example, beautiful metal bracelets were worn on shoulders and wrists. All this was decorated with the Udjat symbol, which was considered the strongest amulet.
The artisans of this state made such exquisite and unique designs that Egyptian jewelry was exported to many countries of the ancient world and was very highly valued at that time.
During the times of Ancient Egypt, both women and men wore jewelry as talismans. Many were buried along with their valuables that were used during life, including jewelry.
Especially common in those days were signet rings, wide bracelets, as well as pendants, necklaces, earrings and pendants. Bracelets were worn not only on the hands, but also on the ankles. Also popular was the Egyptian neck piece, which could also fit around the shoulders and chest. This product is called a “pectoral”. According to legends, it was designed to protect the heart in which the soul is located. Symbols of the heart itself were often depicted on the pectorals, as well as other signs representing life and power. In addition, people from noble families wore tiaras decorated with precious stones and delicate patterns.
Using stones in jewelry
Ancient Egyptian symbols
The most common symbol in Ancient Egypt was the ujat, which was depicted as an oblong eye. It symbolized protection and healing. It was often painted on tombs to protect the soul of the deceased.
Ankh is a symbol of eternal life. Depicted as a cross with a ring on top. This sign remains very popular in modern times, most often it is used in pendants.
Shenu is a rope ring with a name written inside it. In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that such a talisman prolongs the life of the person whose name is inscribed on it and protects him from misfortunes.
Plants in Egyptian symbolism
The lotus flower is one of the most common symbols of Ancient Egypt. This plant represents rebirth, creation and the sun. According to mythology, the sun in the sky appeared from a huge lotus flower that emerged from the ocean. Egyptian jewelry very often contained elements in the form of this plant.
Egyptian jewelry was very often decorated with precious stones, the most common of which were turquoise, onyx, lapis lazuli, amethyst, opal, and garnet. These minerals were also often present in the finishing of expensive clothing, belts and other items. Turquoise symbolized joy, lapis lazuli symbolized mercy, and red stones symbolized power.
Jewelry colors
In addition to precious stones and symbols of the gods, colors played a special role in jewelry. The difference in color determined protection from certain dangers. The most expensive item was lapis glaze, which had a special blue color and was worn exclusively by royalty. The green color was also revered, symbolizing the productivity and fertility of the land. For ritual burials, red necklaces were used, signifying the blood that was offered to the goddess Isis.
The meaning of metals in ancient Egyptian jewelry
The most common metal for the Egyptians was gold. The reason is that it was abundant due to the easy mining that took place in Nubia. Silver was also used, but in smaller quantities due to mining difficulties.
The products that were made from these metals were complex and consisted of buckles and gold clasps made using the filigree technique. The next metal that was popular after gold and silver was bronze. It was sometimes covered with gold foil. Alloys were also used, including electrum. Electrum is an alloy of gold and silver with a small proportion of copper and other impurities, reminiscent of platinum in its shine. The curious thing is that today it is almost impossible to obtain.
It should also be noted that iron in Egypt was considered a valuable material, worth more than gold. Hair combs and various hairpins were made from it. Due to their value and beauty, these products were considered works of art, which were inlaid with colored enamels and stones. All of them had images of figurines of birds and animals.
Another reason for the value of silver was that it was associated with the goddess Isis. Silver and stones in general had magical powers for the Egyptians, and were therefore used in various esoteric practices.
Version about the extraterrestrial origin of some Egyptian jewelry
Some of the jewelry that archaeologists once discovered in the ancient Egyptian settlement of Al-Girza is believed to have been made from meteorite metal. Scientists have established their age at five thousand years, and the most complete report on this research can be found in the journal of scientific research Meteoritics and Planetary Science.
The found samples of products were analyzed in detail using scanning microscopes and a tomograph. The results showed that the jewelry contained thirty percent pure nickel. This does not happen in terrestrial nature, and only meteorites consisting of metal can contain such a large amount of nickel. Scientists also discovered a special structure that has the appearance of a characteristic crystalline pattern, which can only be obtained during the gradual cooling of the asteroid.
The found product, which was examined by scientists, is a metal bead. It is attributed to the Gergei culture, which existed in the earliest period of Egyptian culture. Then the extraction of iron by the Egyptians was impossible, and it turns out that all ancient finds of this kind are jewelry that were made from meteorite remains. The Egyptians simply processed and added embossing and other features to these decorations.
Jewelry in ancient Egyptian clothing
The structure of Egyptian clothing was very simple. It was made from linen, but the fineness of its processing was more reminiscent of silk clothing. Great importance was attached to the coloring of the fabric, for which natural dyes of green, red and blue shades were used. In later historical periods, yellow and brown colors began to predominate. In addition to linen clothing, which was the main one, the Egyptians wore leather and cotton products.
It is noteworthy that differences in classes were determined solely by the quality of the fabric. For ordinary people, it was coarser and protected from various bad weather, but for the rich, the clothes were thin and soft. Men wore schenti, which were aprons fastened to the waist with a belt. In some cases they were dressed in numbers of two or more. Women wore kalaziris - tight-fitting, straight-cut shirts fastened with straps.
Hats
Egyptian headdresses are particularly original and served as decorations. The simplest thing is leather and silk laces, headbands, various metal hoops that the Egyptians put on wigs and their own hair.
The pharaohs had their own headdresses. At special moments, they wore special headdresses with precious metals. They stayed tightly on the head and covered all the hair, leaving only the ears open. Among the most ancient, it is worth noting pschent. This is a crown, the shape of which is more similar to the appearance of a bottle that was inserted into a ring. After Upper and Lower Egypt were united, the pharaohs began to wear such a headdress in red and white. According to the rules, pschent was worn on small linen hats or scarves.
Another famous headdress is atef. This is also a double reed crown, which is decorated with images of a snake and a kite. The variety of these ancient Egyptian jewelry was determined by the presence of tiaras and precious metal.
Absolutely all classes wore a headscarf called a claft. And its variety is considered to be a striped model called neme. The design of head decorations used floral motifs. These are mainly lotus petals.
Of the symbols, noteworthy is the image of a small snake, which spoke of the divine origin of the pharaoh and his unlimited power. It was called ureus, and was made of gold using colored enamels. The image of a snake was located at the temple or above the forehead. In rare cases, on the beard of a pharaoh. Although there are examples when the pharaoh has several such decorations in different places.
Egyptian warriors had felt hats and helmets as headdresses. For ministers of worship, scarves and hats with masks of sacred animals attached to them were expected.
Among Egyptian women, wearing headdresses was rare. Only queens wore headdresses. If you look at the paintings, the wives of the pharaohs are dressed in headdresses in the form of a hawk with outstretched wings, which is made of gold with the use of enamels and precious stones. There were also other types of women's headdresses. Queen Nefertiti had a cylindrical headdress. Women from the upper class wore flowers, wreaths, ribbons, tiaras, gold chains and various pendants with glass and jewelry on their heads.
Ancient Egyptian hairstyles
Egyptian hairstyles had their own peculiarity, maintaining a trapezoidal shape. The main feature was the wig, made from animal hair or fur. Also, ropes and plant fibers, which were painted black and dark brown, could be used for this. The pharaohs and the classes close to them had large wigs. And the rest wore small round wigs. The main thing is that the wig served as protection from the scorching sun, so everyone wore them.
Over the course of history, hairstyles have become more complex, and this especially affected wigs. There the hair begins to be braided into numerous braids and then curled. The length of the hair increased and began to reach shoulder level. The bangs now have transverse and longitudinal partings. When special occasions arrived, the Egyptians began to wear long wigs that had large curls. All this was carefully soaked in incense, perfume and aromatic oils. In some cases, instead of curling, tightly packed braids were used, under which one’s own hair showed through.
Women's hair was much longer, as were the hairstyles themselves. Noble ladies wore intricate hairstyles with clear and strict lines, which is why these hairstyles were called geometric in history.
Pectoral in the form of a sacred scarab beetle Around 1350 BC. e.
Height 15 cm
National Museum
Cairo
The beetle was considered a symbol of rebirth and immortality. He was often depicted rolling a ball of dung in front of him, which was associated with the rising sun.
Belt Around 1840 BC e.
Gold, amethyst
Length 60 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
The belt belonged to Princess Mereret, daughter of Senusret III. It consists of amethyst beads and golden panther heads, connected in pairs. The panther was the embodiment of the divine principle and the protector of people
Scourge of Princess Neferuptah
Around 1800 BC e. (reign of Amenemhat III)
Faience, carnelian, gilding, wood (modern)
Length 36.5 cm
From Havara (Pyramid of the Princess). Now - Cairo
Egyptian Museum
Diadem of the princess Sat-Hathor-Iunit Around 1800 BC. e. (reign of Amenemhat III)
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, green faience
Height about 44 cm; width 19.2 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
The owner of this masterpiece of jewelry was one of the daughters of Senusret II
Queen Ahhotep's bracelet
Around 1530 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise, glass
Diameter 6.1 - 7.3 cm, height 7.3 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Treasures of the wives of Thutmose III
Around 1504 - 1450 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, glass
Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York
Sandals and bracelets come from the burial of the three wives of King Thutmose III - Menkhet, Merti and Menvai
Queen's headdress
Around 1504 - 1450 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, glass
Height 23.8 cm; diameter 30 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York
Reconstruction of the head decoration and hairstyle of the queen - one of the wives of Thutmose III
Bracelets and earrings
15th - 14th centuries BC e.
Gold
Diameter 10.5, 5.8 and 10.5 cm
Leiden
Although earrings have been known since the 5th dynasty, they came into fashion only in the 18th. They were worn by both men and women
Warlord Jhuti's Heart Scarab (abdomen)
Around 1450 BC e.
Slate, gold
National Museum of Antiquities
Leiden
Warlord Jhuti's Heart Scarab (back)
Around 1450 BC e.
Slate, gold
8.3 x 5.3 x 2.7 (scarab); chain length 133 cm
National Museum of Antiquities
Leiden
Large necklace in the shape of a cobra. Fragment
14th century BC e.
Gold; coinage
National Museum
Cairo
Mirror frame “Ankh” or “Cross of Life”
14th century BC e.
Wood, gold, colored glass paste; inlay
Height 27 cm
National Museum
Cairo
Found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun
Incense box
14th century BC e.
National Museum
Cairo
Found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Made in the form of a double scroll, inlaid with colored glass paste
Necklace
Around 1400 BC e.
Faience
Length 38 cm
Egyptian Museum
Berlin
The main motif of this beautiful necklace is pomegranate buds and flowers
Beads
Around 1375 BC e.
Length (top to bottom): 28.5, 51 and 34.5 cm
State Museum of Antiquities
Leiden
Around 1350 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, turquoise, feldspar, lapis lazuli
Height 15 cm
National Museum
Cairo
The beetle was considered a symbol of rebirth and immortality. He was often depicted rolling a ball of dung in front of him, which was associated with the rising sun.
Pectoral with the image of a divine bird - a falcon. Fragment
Around 1350 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise
Height 11.7 cm
National Museum
Cairo
Beads
Around 1340 BC e.
Polychrome faience
Length 53 cm
Pelyceus Museum
Hildesheim
Pectoral with the image of a sacred scarab beetle surrounded by royal uraei and floral ornaments
Around 1350 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, carnelian, glass
National Museum
Cairo
Late 18th Dynasty (c. 1333 - 1323 BC)
Wood, gold leaf, colored glass, enamel, semi-precious stones; inlay
National Museum
Cairo
Made by artisans of Akhetaton, the capital of Egypt under Pharaoh Akhenaten. On the back of the throne are depicted royal uraea, plants and birds from the banks of the Nile
Bracelet with amulet "udjat"
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, carnelian, glass
Length 16.2 cm; width 2.7 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Bracelet with amulet "udjat" (reverse side)
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
On the reverse side of the ujat amulet the following is engraved: “Lord of the Two Lands, image of Ra, Nebheprur, ruler of that which is in maat (= order), given to him life like Ra, eternally and endlessly.”
Bracelet with scarab
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, quartz, turquoise, carnelian
Max. diameter 5.4 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
The scarab (“kheper”) was considered a symbol of the morning sun, with which the deceased king was identified. The very color of blue lapis lazuli meant eternal life
Pectoral necklace
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, feldspar, resin
Necklace length 23.5 cm; pectoral width 10.8 cm; clasp width 6.8 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Necklace with a pectoral in the form of the goddess Nekhbet
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, obsidian, glass
Pectoral height 6.5 cm; pectoral width 11 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Necklace with a pectoral in the form of the goddess Nekhbet (reverse side of the pectoral)
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
On the chest of the goddess Nekhbet is a necklace with a cartouche of Tutankhamun.
Pectoral in the form of a falcon
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise, obsidian, glass
Width 12.6 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Pectoral with winged scarab
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, silver, carnelian, lapis lazuli, calcite, obsidian(?), turquoise, glass
Height 14.9 cm; width 14.5 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Rings
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
The rings depict one of the most important deities of the Egyptian pantheon, whose cult was restored by Tutankhamun after 17 years of oblivion under the “heretic” pharaoh Akhenaten. This is Ra-Horakhty, which means "Ra-Hor of the horizon"
Earrings
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold, quartz, calcite, faience, glass
Length 10.9 cm; width 5.2 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
The earrings were in a cartouche-shaped casket. In the center of the composition are birds with a duck head and falcon wings forming a ring. Birds hold "shen" ("infinity") signs in their paws. The pendants end in uraei.
Funeral mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (3/4 perspective)
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
National Museum
Cairo
An idealized portrait of the pharaoh, covering the head and shoulders of the mummy over the shrouds
Funeral mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (back view)
Around 1334 - 1328 BC e.
Gold leaf, blue glass paste, turquoise, lapis lazuli, enamels; inlay
Height 54 cm; height at shoulder level 40 cm
National Museum
Cairo
Amulets
Around 1325 BC e.
Jasper, faience, gold
Height about 9 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
The following amulets are presented (from top left to right): wand "was", "ankh", papyrus stem "waj", pillar of Osiris "Djed". In the center - "tit" ("Isis knot")
Bracelets of Ramesses II
Around 1290 BC e.
Gold, lapis lazuli
Width 6 cm; maximum diameter 7.2 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
These excellent bracelets were accidentally discovered during the construction of the railway near Tel Basta (ancient Bubastis), in the cache of a temple that was once located here. Vessels made of gold and silver were also kept there.
Diadem
Around 1190 BC e.
Gold
Diameter 17 cm
Egyptian Museum
Cairo
The tiara is a hoop on which 16 rosettes are attached, forming a wreath. On the rosettes there are the names of Seti II and his wife Tausert, from which we can conclude that the diadem belonged to the queen
Amulets: "udjat", heart, "tit", pectoral with scarab
14th - 6th century BC e. (18th - 26th dynasties)
Faience
Height: 6.7; 6.4; 6; 6.5; 9.7 cm
British Museum
London
Bracelet with scarab beetle clasp
Gold, carnelian turquoise, feldspar, lapis lazuli
National Museum
Cairo
Stacked bracelet with a scarab clasp. Fragment
Gold, amethyst, semi-precious stones
National Museum
Cairo
The stacked bracelet features alternating rows of scarabs and Wadjet eyes, separated by gold balls. The clasp is made in the form of an amethyst scarab in a gold frame with images of uraei.
Necklace with finials in the form of a falcon's head. Fragment
Gold, colored paste
National Museum
Cairo
Each pharaoh during his lifetime was considered an incarnation of Horus, and after death - his father Osiris
Necklace with the image of the divine bird - falcon
National Museum
Cairo
The god Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, is represented in the form of a falcon. In the bird's claws are hieroglyphic signs of eternity (shen) and life (ankh)
Necklace with images of a vulture and a cobra
Gold, carnelian, turquoise, colored paste; inlay
National Museum
Cairo
Pectoral necklace with images of the goddess Nekhbet in the form of a vulture and the goddess Wadjet in the form of a cobra. The vulture and cobra represent Upper and Lower Egypt respectively and symbolize their unity under the rule of the pharaoh Ring with the image of the god Sebiumeker
Late 1st century BC e.
Gold, glass
Ring diameter 1.8 cm; shield: 4.7 x 3.6 cm
From Meroe (Northern Necropolis). Now - Munich
State Collection of Egyptian Art
The Meroitic deity Sebiumeker is depicted with a beard, wearing a double Egyptian crown
The wide necklace and temple facade are a typical decorative motif of Meroitic art. Identification of the ram-headed deity remains in doubt
Ring
About 70 n. e.
Gold
Length 4.8 cm
Center for the Study of Greco-Roman Egypt
Trier
The ring is made in the shape of a coiled snake with busts of Isis and Serapis at the ends of the tail. Such decorations are not uncommon in Fayum portraits.
Pectoral depicting the sky goddess Nut
Gold, enamel; embossing, carnelian
National Museum
Cairo
The winged arms of the goddess are outstretched in a protective gesture. The hieroglyphic inscriptions embossed on the plate have the meaning of charm spells. The name of Tutankhamun appears several times, however, the name of Akhenaten was originally inscribed in the cartouches
Pectoral depicting a sacred scarab beetle surrounded by royal uraei
Gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, carnelian.
National Museum
Decoration
Gold, carnelian, turquoise, glass
National Museum
Cairo
The goddess Nekhbet in the guise of a vulture, wearing the crown of Atef, shades with her wings the pharaoh, wrapped in the robe of the god of death Osiris
