Jewelry was often passed from generation to generation as family heirlooms. Occasionally it was dedicated at sanctuaries as an offering to the gods. The form/ size of jewelry or what part of your body the jewelry was worn could identify what class you are a part of. Sometimes jewelry was made to honor not only the gods but the kings of the ancient world. Every detail of jewelry from the material used to the carvings have hidden meanings. Jewelry had a big impact on the ancient world and its art.

Gold and cabochon garnet ring

3rd–2nd century B.C.

Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City

The size of the hexagonal bezel, set with a plain but impressively large oval garnet, combined with the fact that another smaller garnet is set in a circular bezel at the center of the hoop at the rear, suggests that one was meant to wear this ring on the thumb. The piece is a striking example of the extravagant and ostentatious lifestyle of the rich in the Hellenistic world.

Gold Ring 

3rd–2nd century B.C.

Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City

Intaglio gold ring: head of Alexander the Great in the guise of Herakles, wearing the lion’s skin, with paws, fastened around the neck.

Gold armband with Herakles knot 

3rd–2nd century B.C.

Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City

The Herakles knot on this sumptuous armband is enriched with floral decoration and inlaid with garnets, emeralds, and enamel. According to the Roman writer Pliny, the decorative device of the Herakles knot could cure wounds, and its popularity in Hellenistic jewelry suggests that it was thought to have the power to avert evil.

Gold openwork hairnet with medallion

3rd–2nd century B.C.

Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City

The medallion represents the head of a maenad, one of the female followers of the god Dionysos, wearing spiral earrings, a wreath of vine leaves and grapes, and a panther skin.

Pair of Gold Armbands

3rd–2nd century B.C.

Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City

These imposing serpentine armbands represent two tritons, male and female, each holding a small winged Eros.

Jewelry was an important way that the Egyptians tried to get the attention of their gods. They thought that the more jewelry they wore, the more attractive they would be to the gods. There is a long-standing tradition of wearing pieces of jewelry that are symbolic in nature. Historically, jewelry was worn as a protective amulet or as an expression of faith, in addition to being a status symbol. Everyone wore jewelry in ancient Egypt, from poor farmers to wealthy royals. For the wealthy, pieces were made from semi-precious stones, precious metals, and glass beads. The poor substituted these with painted clay, stones, shells, animal teeth and bones. Jewelry affected everyone in the ancient world and through the modern world today. Each piece of jewelry symbolizes something different and it is interesting to see where it all started.