The Greeks were known for a lot of incredible things, but little is known of their jewelry. The first true examples we have of Ancient Greek Jewelry is pieces that utilize beads shaped in the form of various animals and shells. Around--00 B.C. they started to utilize gemstones and gold into their various jewelry designs. By the time 300 B.C. had rolled around, they had ventured into the area of colored jewelry that utilized amethysts, pearls, and emeralds. They made cameos from a striped down pink and cream agate known as the Indian Sardonyx. As was the case with most cultures, Greek jewelry designs started off simply, but as time progressed, they grew increasingly more elaborate and complex.
The people of Ancient Greece did not wear jewelry in their daily lives. It was worn during special events, occasions, or public appearances. A common gift for women, it was displayed to show off not only their incredible beauty, but also their social status and tremendous wealth. It was thought that jewelry had mystical powers. Many believed that it could ward off the "Evil Eye" (a look that one person could send your way that would bring you injury or other forms of bad luck). Most of the Greek jewelry of this time period was made from (1) silver, (2) gold, (3) ivory, (4) gemstones, (5) clay, and (6) bronze.
The Ancient Greeks developed two types of jewelry. These types were: (1) cast jewelry pieces and (2) those that were formulated by hammering out sheet metal. We have only a few examples of these cast jewelry pieces available today. They were made by casting the metal onto two moulds made out of either clay or stone. These two moulds were joined together with wax, and molten metal was poured into the center of the mould. This technique had been passed down since the Ancient Bronze Age. Jewelry made from hammering sheet metal was much more common. Sheet metal was hammered to the desired thickness, and then soldered together.
The Ancient Romans also had jewelry designs as part of their culture. The brooch, an item used to secure clothing together, was the most common example of early Roman jewelry. The Roman Empire was vast and huge, and the Romans took full advantage of this size, incorporating a diverse range of materials from far and wide. In the earlier years they utilized a lot of glass beads and pearls, but in later years they utilized bronze and bone and gold. Imported sapphires from Sri Lanka and Indian diamond (along with amber and emeralds), were also incorporated into their jewelry designs.
The Ancient Romans followed the belief set by the Ancient Romans, and felt that jewelry could be used to ward off the "Evil Eye" (a wish from one's enemies that could bring injury or other harm). Women often wore jewelry all over their bodies, while men often only wore a ring on one of their fingers. Some men used their own personal taste and wore a number of rings on a number of fingers.
The people of Ancient Greece did not wear jewelry in their daily lives. It was worn during special events, occasions, or public appearances. A common gift for women, it was displayed to show off not only their incredible beauty, but also their social status and tremendous wealth. It was thought that jewelry had mystical powers. Many believed that it could ward off the "Evil Eye" (a look that one person could send your way that would bring you injury or other forms of bad luck). Most of the Greek jewelry of this time period was made from (1) silver, (2) gold, (3) ivory, (4) gemstones, (5) clay, and (6) bronze.
The Ancient Greeks developed two types of jewelry. These types were: (1) cast jewelry pieces and (2) those that were formulated by hammering out sheet metal. We have only a few examples of these cast jewelry pieces available today. They were made by casting the metal onto two moulds made out of either clay or stone. These two moulds were joined together with wax, and molten metal was poured into the center of the mould. This technique had been passed down since the Ancient Bronze Age. Jewelry made from hammering sheet metal was much more common. Sheet metal was hammered to the desired thickness, and then soldered together.
The Ancient Romans also had jewelry designs as part of their culture. The brooch, an item used to secure clothing together, was the most common example of early Roman jewelry. The Roman Empire was vast and huge, and the Romans took full advantage of this size, incorporating a diverse range of materials from far and wide. In the earlier years they utilized a lot of glass beads and pearls, but in later years they utilized bronze and bone and gold. Imported sapphires from Sri Lanka and Indian diamond (along with amber and emeralds), were also incorporated into their jewelry designs.
The Ancient Romans followed the belief set by the Ancient Romans, and felt that jewelry could be used to ward off the "Evil Eye" (a wish from one's enemies that could bring injury or other harm). Women often wore jewelry all over their bodies, while men often only wore a ring on one of their fingers. Some men used their own personal taste and wore a number of rings on a number of fingers.
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