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Egyptian jewelry has been around for as long as the pyramids themselves and has traveled a long journey
commencing from the time of the pharaohs to this modern era. The most interesting aspect of ancient Egyptian jewelry trends is that it was worn in abundance by women as well men. Ancient Egyptian jewelry is noted for its stylized forms as well as its rich and bright colors. The ancient Egyptians wore jewelry primarily to ward off magic spells and protect themselves from evil. Their jewelry was fashioned out of various minerals and stones because of their immense belief in lucky stones and the power of other assorted stones and minerals. The necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and anklets were made of an assortment of beads put together in interesting patterns. The choice of materials that was used for creating jewelry pieces was more often based on religious beliefs and symbolism. The choice of color was particularly symbolic and was given prime importance. The color green was often used to signify prosperity and fertility. Though it was common for people from all classes of society to wear jewelry, the elite class wore special jewelry that was rich and comprised of uncommon materials and stones. In fact social status was determined by the style of jewelry worn. The elite class only wore jewelry that was made of gold and silver and even their pins, belts and buckles along with their necklaces, rings and bracelets were only made of these metals. However, stones remained the most important component of their jewelry. Ancient Egyptian jewelry made its mark during the Naqari and Badari eras. During that time the materials used were mainly got from natural resources including various wood, perforated stones, horns, bones and even plant branches. Rings made of stone or horn were very popular before different metals were discovered. It was only during later eras that jewelry craftsman began creating jewelry using metals such as silver, gold and copper. However, the use of metals in jewelry was limited because of the dangerous prevalent mining conditions. The 'Ankh' became the most popular symbol of this period though other symbols including falcons and lotus flowers were also commonly used to express various emotions. The true origins of Egyptian jewelry commenced only when precious metals were finally accessible to the people. Safer and easier methods replaced the difficult and dangerous missions that were carried out for extracting metals, making gold and silver more easily available during the New Kingdom and giving the art of jewelry-making a much required boost. The dynastic eras saw a predominance of an assortment of minerals, metals and precious stones in a stunning variety of colors. Silver remained the preferred metal amongst the Egyptians until the time of the Middle Kingdom after which gold took over as the most favored metal. There was an over-abundance of gold during this era and it was used in everything from statues and furniture to vessels. It finally began to be used in jewelry, but it was only when the craftsmen mastered the technical methods and precision required to create jewelry pieces that jewelry making reached its zenith. Though other materials including turquoise, amethyst, garnet, cornelian, opal and feldspar were commonly used in ancient Egyptian jewelry, Lapis lazuli remained a special favorite. Man-made resources such as various glazed objects and colored glass designed to simulate the appearance of precious stones were also used by artisans to create beautifully designed and colored jewelry. These ornaments were primarily fashioned keeping religion and religious sentiments in mind. Religious icons and symbols were often crafted into some form of jewelry. The ancient Egyptians often buried jewelry and adornments along with their deceased. The Scarab, the predominant symbol of rebirth at the time, was one of the most favored pieces of jewelry that was buried with the dead. Almost all pieces of ancient Egyptian jewelry that has been discovered were those that were entombed including wreaths, hair bands and combs. The pharaohs preferred to wear specially created gold jewelry embedded with semi-precious materials in the belief that it enhanced their personality. The jewelry pieces that were favored and worn daily by any pharaoh were buried along with their dead body. Thousands of years later an amazing assortment of gold jewelry including gold necklaces, rings, crowns, earrings and vests were found in abundance from 'mummies' or the dead bodies that had been carefully embalmed and preserved. The vest was a thick gold plate that was popularly worn around the chest during that time. Two of the most common symbols used in Egyptian jewelry are the Cartouche and the Ankh. The Ankh signifies life in ancient hieroglyphic terms and is a very popular feature seen in most Egyptian jewelry. Also referred to as the Egyptian Cross, the Ankh symbol pre-dates most pagan symbols as well as the cross by thousands of years, yet has managed to survive to present times as a powerful symbol of Life. The form of the Ankh as well as its timeless meaning has contributed to its global appeal and it is popularly
worn all over the world as an external affirmation of life. Egyptian gods are commonly portrayed bearing an Ankh in each hand. The Cartouche signifies divine royalty and in ancient Egypt it was the symbol within which a pharaoh's name was enclosed. Cartouche jewelry in ancient Egypt was especially reserved only for the kings and pharaohs, and featured the king's or pharaoh's name encased by an oval shape. The ancient Egyptians firmly believed that their pharaohs and kings were descended directly from the gods, particularly the sun god, Ra. So, while anybody's name could be hieroglyphically spelled, only the names of the gods, pharaohs and other royalty could be enclosed in the oval-shaped cartouche symbol. Originally round, the cartouche symbol was later elongated over a period of time to accommodate the decidedly longer names of the later-day pharaohs. The shape is a symbol of a rope that is tied up at one end and encircles the pharaoh's name. It signified the pharaoh's divine rule and his reign over everything that exists in the cosmos.

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Egyptian jewelry has been around for as long as the pyramids themselves and has traveled a long journey

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