Incredible jewelry art of Ancient Egypt (27 photos). Egyptian jewelry - elegant and original What Egyptian jewelry looks like

Ancient history has always attracted many people, because it is full of heroic events and unsolved mysteries. Ancient customs are reflected in many areas of human life, and they also influenced fashion. In Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, people already wore jewelry. However, in most cases they served as amulets and amulets against evil spirits. And in our time, jewelry made in Greek and Egyptian styles has become quite popular. This can be both jewelry and costume jewelry.

What kind of jewelry was made in Ancient Egypt?

Ancient Egyptian jewelry was initially made from horn or stone, since at the time when these products were created, people had not yet mined metal. Later, precious items began to be made from gold, silver, as well as bronze and copper.

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 one, which could also fit 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

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.

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.

The 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. This plant represents rebirth, creation and the sun. According to mythology, the sun in the sky appeared from a huge one that arose from the ocean. Egyptian jewelry very often contained elements in the form of this plant.

Images of animals in ancient Egyptian symbolism

The most common symbol was He was associated with the rising of the sun and the rebirth of the soul. This insect was depicted very often. Many Egyptian jewelry was made with an ornament in the form of this beetle. Also, images of scarabs were often used on tombs and served as a symbol of the rebirth of the soul of a deceased person.

Two crows - this symbol meant marriage between a man and a woman.

A snake with its tail covering the rest of its body. In Ancient Egypt, it was depicted as a sign of eternity; the Greeks called such a symbol a “basilisk.” The Egyptians themselves called such a snake “Ouarion”.

Hawk. This bird symbolized the soul. This was clear from its ancient Egyptian name, which was a word combining the concepts of “soul” and “heart” - then it was believed that a person’s soul was located precisely in his heart.

The symbol of power was a stick, forked downwards, with the top depicting the head of a dog. A scepter that looked like this was depicted in the hands of the gods, and was also owned by the pharaohs.

Egyptian style jewelry today

In the modern world, many ancient jewelry fascinates the eyes of museum visitors. And many jewelry manufacturers are trying to imitate the style of the ancient masters, creating elegant jewelry in the Egyptian style.

Nowadays, you can find jewelry or costume jewelry that is decorated with any of those ancient symbols that were listed above. Egyptian jewelry, photos of which you have probably seen more than once, are now very popular. This is not surprising, since such original accessories will complement any, even the most sophisticated look.

Nowadays, products that are copies of ancient jewelry found by archaeologists during excavations are also common.

One of the most popular Egyptian-style jewelry is the bracelet, which contains precious lapis lazuli, turquoise and others. If you happen to visit Egypt, then as a reminder of your trip you can buy an accessory that will be an exquisite addition to your elegant look. True, it is unlikely to cost you cheap.

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.

Fifteen loops were counted on one bracelet about ten centimeters long and consisting of two fastened halves from the same Cairo treasure collection. 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 him 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. So simple? Nothing like this. 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.

Egypt still hides a huge number of secrets. Historical artifacts contain an incredible amount of information that provides food for the mind, brings confusion to the established picture of the world, and amazes with its beauty and mystery. The purposes of many symbols and objects are still the subject of much scientific debate. And yet it is incredibly beautiful and amazing.

For many centuries, the creative power of Egypt has amazed us with its mystery and secrets about the origin of certain objects and beliefs.

It is not for nothing that when translated from Greek, the word “Egypt” means: “a mysterious, enigmatic place, center or homeland of mysteries.”

According to many scientists, the civilization of Egypt developed along its own, very surprising and incomprehensible path - jumping straight from a primitive level to a great civilization. Egypt and its developed society already existed when cave paintings were still painted in Europe and people wore skins.

Ancient peoples, and the Egyptians in particular, felt that jewelry was directly related to the forces of nature and worshiped them as gods, giving meaning and special power to each metal and stone.

Scarab on a gold bracelet from the mummy of an Egyptian pharaoh

Since ancient times, people have created jewelry from gold, silver, and precious stones as a way to protect themselves from death, disease and other troubles, appealing to the very forces of nature that gave them these materials and appointing them as the main talismans and guardians of life.

Anklet of King Tut, Cairo Museum.

Beautiful bracelets made of precious stones, family seals - rings, exquisite crowns served not only as indicators of the wealth of their owner, but also social status and even the presence of certain privileges of a civil servant.

Golden mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Cairo Museum

Egypt carried its religious culture through the millennia, because their decorations mainly used divine images of those who were worshiped and considered saints. To this day, scientists are struggling with the classification of Egyptian deities and their images on found objects.

Gold ring of Tutankhamun with scarab

22 Egyptian scarabs - decoration of the nobility

Turquoise chest decoration

The Egyptians were sure that the heart was the most important thing in the human body, more important than his brain and other parts of the body. It was this that was the source of life. And therefore, the chest was a special, sacred place, where items appropriate to the occasion were certainly put on, carrying protection for the most intimate and important thing - the heart. One of the most famous holy protections was the scarab beetle - a symbol of vitality, resurrection, and a symbol of movement forward. In addition, the scarab's wing covers hide its wings and few people can believe that it can fly, but nevertheless, the flight of the scarab, and most importantly its wings, according to the Egyptians, are wings of spirituality, wings of power that can surprise us when they spread out and gain freedom.

Turquoise Scarab

Rare ancient Egyptian faience figurative ring; dark green blue faience ring, New Kingdom, 18-19th dynasty, table modeled on a large sitting cat (Bastet), surrounded by small cats, intricately detailed

Gold amulets and bracelet of the nobility

Pendant of the princess Sat-Hathor-Iunit Circa 1870 BC.

Image of the holy falcon bird. Gold, lapis glaze, carnelian, turquoise

Diadem of the princess Sat-Hathor-Iunit Around 1800 BC. e. (reign of Amenemhat III) Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, green faience

Another point to which the Egyptians had a special relationship is the point in the middle of the forehead, the so-called “third eye,” to which the Egyptians had a special relationship. They tried their best to cover this place. They especially often used the image of the snake Buto (Urey), which was worn by the pharaohs.

The Egyptians very richly decorated their wrists and shoulders, on which they put beautiful metal bracelets, mainly decorated with the symbol of Udjat, that is, the Eye of Horus. In the Indian tradition, there are places called chakras, which are certain circles, wheels, considered to be special immaterial, ethereal human organs that control our mental or spiritual life, and these are precisely the very places that the Egyptians decorated, trying to protect them from adversity.

Clothes detail

Egyptian rituals regarding jewelry are very diverse. What is worth only one ritual - burial, which was given special attention, because the journey to Amenti - the sacred land, paradise - is the last let of the human soul. Amen-Ti means "land of Amun, 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).

Wig of Queen Cleopatra of Egypt

The Egyptians believed that stones and metals were associated with certain stars and therefore often used gold, silver and electrum in their products. Electrum is the most complex alloy, a compound of gold, silver and other metals (nowadays almost impossible to obtain) that is similar to silver, but has 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 ankh symbol is one of the most famous and beloved symbols in the world, classic and simple in its form. The Ankh survives to this day as a powerful symbol of life. Both the shape and timeless meaning have wide circulation, and the ankh was often worn as an affirmation of life itself. Cartouche is a symbol of divine royalty (royal). The ancient Egyptians believed that their rulers, the pharaohs, were descendants of the gods.

A golden diadem with the image of a vulture and a cobra, inlaid with glass, obsidian, carnelian, malachite, chalcedony and lapis lazuli. Eighteenth Dynasty, reign of Tutankhamun (1332-1323 BC). Thebes, Valley of the Kings, Tutankhamun's tomb

The Egyptians often used lapis lazuli, which was one of the magic stones. They also used carnelian, a red mineral, rock crystal, and glass.

Bracelet of Queen Ahhotep Around 1530 BC. e. Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise

One of the technical mysteries of Egypt relates to the processing of the hardest stone, Diorite. Diorite, a stone from the western desert, black with thin veins, sometimes whitish, has a hardness rating of nine - just one less than diamond. But the Egyptians cut it like butter, creating truly magnificent things from it - canopic vessels for the entrails of the dead. Scientists who studied the art of processing this stone found that the hardness of the drill for such processing should be 14 points higher than the hardness of diamond. However, diamond was not used, because after numerous experiments, scientists found that friction at the drilling point would cause deformation of the stone, but it was not found on any vessel. What kind of material was used to process diorite still remains a mystery.

This necklace with three fly pendants was given to Queen Ahhotep by her two sons Kamose and Ahmose I in gratitude for her support in the fight for liberation from Hyksos rule.

This type of jewelry was awarded to military leaders for their courage on the battlefield.

Gold ring in the form of writhing snakes with a large garnet. Egypt. 3rd century BC

In their jewelry art, the Egyptians paid attention to every detail. For example, it is known for certain that the inside of the product had to be the same color as its outside. We don’t attach much importance to what kind of chair, for example, is on the inside - the main thing is the color on the outside. But the Egyptians had other thoughts on this matter and their products always exactly repeated the outer and inner colors.

Bracelet. Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise

Brooch "Pomegranate"

It should be noted that the entire ancient Egyptian civilization, the entire direction of development of Egyptian culture was extremely benevolent, filled with love, prayer, faith in God, and all the talk about the curses of the pharaohs and their tombs was nothing more than fiction.

Rings - with crocodile and Sfinski

Of course, this is only a small part of the ancient Egyptian jewelry available in museums around the world today. These are truly amazing and amazing things, each of which has its own sacred meaning.

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 form 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

“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 penetrate the spirit and beauty of Egyptian jewelry, dwelling a little on the practical use of these jewelry 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 protected from evil spells, grief, and even from physical attacks. Partially this tradition has been preserved 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 jewelry 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 Amun, 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!