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. Back 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
Around 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
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 is 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.Ancient Egyptian craftsmen mastered many techniques for making jewelry from the most different 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 than for the 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 in 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 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.
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 different 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. IN natural hair and gold jewelry and chains could be woven into 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 dress 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 references, jewelry in Ancient Egypt began to be made 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.
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. According to 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.
Obviously, for the ancient Egyptians, jewelry did not have the same value as it does today. They believed more in magical power, and the value was reinforced according to its position. The products were protected from evil influences, bad moods and, oddly enough, even from physical violence.
Regarding forms jewelry, then 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 earth. For ritual burials, red necklaces were used, signifying the blood that was offered to the goddess Isis.
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 luster. 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.
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 belongs to the Gergei culture, which existed in the most early period 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.
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. 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.
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 exposed. 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.
Egyptian hairstyles had their own peculiarity, maintaining a trapezoidal shape. The main feature was the wig, made from animal hair or fur. Also for this purpose, ropes and plant fibers could be used, which were painted black and dark brown. The pharaohs and the classes close to them had wigs large sizes. 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 laid braids were used, under which one’s own hair appeared.
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.
“Mighty is your heart..., O Great One - who has become the sky.
You fill every place with your beauty.
The whole earth lies before you - you have embraced it,
You have surrounded the earth and all things with your hands.”
Prayer to Heaven in the image of the goddess Nut
"Pyramid Texts"
In this article I will not go into history, talk in detail about the Gods and their pantheons. My task is to get into the spirit and beauty of Egyptian jewelry, dwelling a little on practical application of these decorations by the Egyptians themselves. 
Egyptian mythology began to take shape in 6-4 thousand BC. long before the emergence of class society. Each region (nome) developed its own pantheons and cults of gods, embodied in heavenly bodies, stones, trees, animals, birds and snakes... 
The Egyptians believed that jewelry carried a certain magical meaning that they somehow protect against evil spells, grief and even physical attacks. Partially this tradition has survived to this day. But the ancients felt more clearly that jewelry should be associated with the forces of nature that help the one who wears them. 
Egyptian jewelry always featured an image of a deity, the most common of which was the image of a scarab - Kefer. 
The location of the decoration on the human body was also important: Chest (Anahata)- jewelry was worn to protect the heart; it was next to the heart that scarabs and symbols associated with rebirth were most often worn. The ancients said that we can create the same wings as a scarab (invisible to the eye, but at the right moment giving the ability to fly) in our hearts, wings of spirituality, wings of strength, and that we ourselves will be surprised when we feel them; 
Middle of the forehead (third eye, Ajna)- the Egyptians covered it with symbols of will and power - the snake Buto (Urey), etc.; 
Wrists, shoulders, ankles- beautiful metal bracelets were put on the wrists and shoulders, mostly decorated with the Udjat symbol, that is, the Eye of Horus - it helps to see well; there were also hieroglyphs written in blue paint, denoting water - allowing one to come into contact with a certain psychic force and understand it. 
The ancient Egyptians had a rich selection of precious objects dedicated to the magical side of life. There was also jewelry intended only for funeral ceremonies: various medallions were put on mummies, which were believed to protect them during the journey to Amenti. Amen-Ti means “land of Amon, or Amen.” Ti is a magic square, Amen is the god Amen (Amon), who is sometimes combined with the god Ra in Amon-Ra (depicted as a solar disk with wings); this union could be represented by various deities and religious forms, and at the same time it was also the protector of mummies. Jewelers of Ancient Egypt used mainly gold, silver and electrum in their products - a combination of gold, silver and a metal resembling silver but with the shine of platinum. Silver for the ancient Egyptians had a value even greater than gold, because it was associated with Isis, with practical mysteries, that is, with sacraments and magic; silver was used in combination with gold and stones, to which the Egyptians attributed sacred powers. The Egyptians often used lapis lazuli, which was one of the magic stones. Carnelian, a red mineral, rock crystal, and glass were also used. 
Welcome to the world of magic of Egyptian jewelry! 
What girl would refuse a cute gold ring, bracelet or something else gold (or at least silver) around her neck? But when receiving a treasured gift, few people think that jewelry was worn back in the days of Ancient Egypt. Moreover, not only women, but also men. True, then, in addition to a decorative function, they also performed a sacred one. We'll tell you
Jewelry making was in great demand even during the heyday of the Egyptian Empire (3 thousand years BC). Even then, gold was mainly used in the manufacture of such products.
Decoration from the tomb of Pharaoh Psusennes I
But, unfortunately, this precious metal was quite rare.
In Ancient Egypt, the pharaohs were extremely popular with gold bracelets worn on their forearms, chest decorations, pendants, earrings, tiaras, necklaces, various head decorations and much more. They were as popular as subcompacts are today. But silver was valued in Ancient Egypt no less than gold.
Decoration from the tomb of Tutankhamun.
In ancient times, owners of various jewelry did not treat them the way modern people do. Owners of jewelry endowed them with a spiritual essence and believed that jewelry could somehow protect them from sorrows, illnesses, evil spells, sorrows, the evil eye, damage, and even physical pain. Thus, jewelry was not just expensive toys for fashionistas and fashionistas of those times. Their owners treated them with great respect and respect. But this happened not only in Egypt, but also in many countries of the ancient world.
The jewelry of Ancient Egypt was shaped like all the deities that the Egyptians worshiped. However, one of the most common jewelry items was and remains the Kefer scarab. Taking its origin from the Ancient Kingdom and continuing to develop intensively until the era of the great Cleopatra, the jewelry art of the Egyptians, like a sponge, absorbed the best of the riches of these times. That is why it is now so difficult to classify it.
Amulet bracelet with a scarab beetle.
Several thousand years later, the Egyptian art of making and processing jewelry spread widely throughout the world. Thus, many peoples borrowed from the Egyptians the idea of endowing jewelry with a soul and wearing such magical items only on certain parts of the body and at certain moments in a person’s life. Nowadays, in order to purchase such a magical product, it is not necessary to go to Egypt, but rather just go to a jewelry store on the Internet and choose the accessory that suits you.
The jewelry of ancient Egypt is full of symbolism.
The Egyptians believed that a person's sacred place was the chest. Therefore, they always wore some important talisman on their chest so that it would protect the heart. It was this organ that the Egyptians considered the most important organ of the human body. In their opinion, the heart gave life. The Egyptians always wore a talisman near their heart, visually reminiscent of the heart or images directly or indirectly associated with rebirth and life.
The all-seeing eye of Horus.
Eleonora BrikThe ancient Egyptians made jewelry that they hung on their necks, fingers, wrists, and ears. They were amulets, amulets against evil spirits, and helped in hunting and other areas of life. Now Egyptian jewelry is used for its intended purpose - as an addition to outfits and creating images.
The jewelry of Ancient Egypt began its history a long time ago. At first they were made from natural materials, such as: stone, wood, minerals. Already added later precious metals and stones. A person's status was determined by the amount of jewelry on his body and in the decoration of his house. What can we say about the pharaohs, they hung their bodies with luxurious gold and stones.
Ancient Egyptian jewelry was worn by both men and women. They were made for living people and for mummies. These were crowns, rings, breast necklaces. They were decorated with precious and semiprecious stones: lapis lazuli, emerald, amethyst, turquoise, onyx, etc.
The jewelry used symbols, each of which meant something different. Udjat – protection and healing. This is an oblong eye that was painted on tombs for a peaceful existence and protection of the soul of a deceased person. Ankh - eternal life. It is also popular in modern times. It looks like a cross with a ring on top.
Animal images were used on the jewelry: for example, the scarab beetle. It symbolized the rebirth of the soul and the rising sun.
December 7, 2014, 10:11
