Decoration in ancient Egyptian style drawing. Egyptian jewelry: the legacy of the greats
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.
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 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 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 metal, bone 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, attached to the forehead. An image of the kite goddess Nekhbe, the patroness, 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.
A variety of accessories with ethnic motifs are now at the height of fashion, as is an unusual combination of materials. The style of Egyptian jewelry is one of the most original, and therefore most in demand among fashionistas.
Ancient Egyptian jewelry
Egyptian ones have been known for a very long time, thanks to numerous excavations that took place on the territory of this country. In ancient times, gold and some semi-precious stones were mined in several places in Egypt, so jewelry made from this metal was widespread. They were worn by everyone: adults and children, men and women. The position of a person could be determined by the number and volume of precious items. For example, the pharaoh had to constantly wear a voluminous collar necklace, as this indicated his high status in society. Ordinary people also widely wore gold items, since at that time this metal was quite accessible and was valued more for its beautiful appearance than for its cost. By the way, iron products, which were also made in Ancient Egypt, were much more expensive than similar ones made of gold. Stones such as garnet, carnelian and amethyst were also widely used in decoration. One could find Egyptian jewelry with enamel or made from beads.
The main models of Egyptian jewelry are arm and leg bracelets, rings, earrings, and brooches. Very often they were made in the form of sacred symbols or animals, and sometimes such amulets were depicted on metal using various techniques. Thus, on numerous products you can see a scarab beetle, which was especially revered by the Egyptians, or a drawing of a whip and a triangle - a symbolic designation of the Nile River Delta - the main source of water and fertile soil for agriculture in Egypt.
Egyptian style jewelry
Egyptian gold jewelry looks very expensive and unusual, but the modern fashion industry offers a huge amount of affordable jewelry made in this ethnic style. Then clothes are selected in calm tones and shapes.
Egyptian neck jewelry is usually voluminous, dense, reminiscent of collars. They consist of several rows of metal plates or beads; they often also have pendants made of beads or small beads. Such decorations are often made from multi-colored materials and can depict, for example, birds with their wings spread wide. Typically, such necklaces look best during the day with a white T-shirt or shirt, complemented by a jacket and trousers or a skirt, and in the evening - with a plain dress that matches the color and has a very simple cut.
Egyptian-style earrings resemble candelabra and consist of several rows of beads with pendants at the ends. They are most suitable for evening wear, as they look very festive and rich. In addition, these earrings are somewhat heavy for constant wear during the day, but for going out in the evening they will be an excellent option. When using such an accessory, you need to simplify the decor of the dress as much as possible, and also choose a hairstyle in which the earrings will be visible in all their glory.
Egyptian style bracelets can be voluminous or thin, however, they never have a clasp and are held on the hands with the help of their round shape. Such bracelets can be worn both above and below the elbow. Sets of bracelets of different widths, decorated with similar ethnic motifs, look especially beautiful.
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The 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.
Ancient Egypt Jewelry
The jewelry of Ancient Egypt began its history a long time ago. At first they were made from natural materials such as stone, wood, and minerals. Later, precious metals and stones were added. 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 semi-precious 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, 10:11Jewelry 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.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 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 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 metal, bone 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 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 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. 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.
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 earth. 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 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.
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, 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 secured 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 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.
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 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.
