Jewellery in Ancient Egypt was always about more than making a fashion statement. It was deeply symbolic, and it wasn’t uncommon to see spiritual elements woven in as well. Many Ancient Egyptians believed that jewellery possessed magical properties, too, whether it was protection from evil or promoting good health. Some even wore jewellery as a way to ensure safe passage when journeying to the afterlife, with different gemstones and materials having different, distinctive meanings.
Materials and Their Symbolic Role
Ancient Egyptians often placed a great deal of importance on materials, as each one played a very symbolic role. Certain materials were used for creating figurines, amulets, and more. Faience, for example, is typically blue or green and was believed to offer protective qualities. It was often used for amulets and beads, and was said to grant favours from the gods.
Carnelian is red and has a strong connection to the goddess Isis. People believed that it granted healing powers, as well as shielding the wearer from harm. Gold, which was supposedly revered by the sun god Ra, symbolised divine power, alongside immortality.
Materials like these were often combined with copper, silver, and malachite to enhance their appearance, while paving the way for more intricate design possibilities.
Types of Jewellery in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian jewellery was not just a reflection of personal taste. It was also a strong representation of the wearer’s values and the connection that they believed they had to the divine. Amulets and necklaces were amongst the most common types of jewellery and served as powerful talismans.
The ankh was often seen as a symbol of immortality, while scarabs signified rebirth and transformation. The lotus flower was also a common motif, symbolising rebirth, and was often seen as a decoration on bracelets and armlets.
Rings were another popular type of jewellery. They were commonly engraved with names or symbols and serve as authoritative pieces. They were also used to seal documents in some instances, showing how they not only served a spiritual and fashionable purpose, but a functional one too.
Scarabs also found wide usage as models for creating seals and amulets, and were carved out of faience and precious stones. They were placed on mummies to protect them in the afterlife, and offered protection and a connection to the divine. Some scarabs were placed over the heart of mummies to show their transition and purity when making their way through the underworld.
Ancient Egyptian Jewellery in Modern Media
Ancient Egyptian jewellery has had a profound impact on modern media as well. It’s not uncommon for television shows, movies, and even games to reference the jewellery people once wore, with a special emphasis put on its influence and grandeur.
Take The Mummy, for example. Anck-Su-Namun, Imhotep’s lover, wore a stunning necklace in the first scene, with a falcon incorporated into the design. This is associated with Horus, the God of Kinship. Birds also played a huge role in funerary rituals, which makes sense for the movie, as she is brought back from the dead.
In more recent times, you have Civilization 7. This strategy game features Hatshepsut, who wears a jewelled headdress with a rearing cobra, which symbolises power and authority. Wadjet is a cobra goddess in Ancient Egypt, and is often seen as being a protector of Lower Egypt, where Hatshepsut ruled for some time.
Then there are games published on an online casino themed to evoke Ancient Egypt, like Scepter of Anubis, where a shimmering gold scarab beetle features as a prominent symbol, with all the aforementioned associations and meanings. Numerous other symbols in the game pay homage to that mysterious time and place, including Anubis and Horus, who are likewise adorned with jewels and are present for a major portion of the gameplay.
It all goes to show how far-reaching the appeal of Ancient Egyptian jewellery is. Media like this reminds us of the lasting influence Ancient Egypt has had on our modern world, and how much we are continuing to embrace it all these years later.
Jewellery in Ancient Egypt was about more than basic ornamentation. It was often highly spiritual and served an important role in daily life. According to popular beliefs, it not only protected the wearer from evil spirits, but also served as a way to communicate with the Gods.
Whether rings, amulets, or even crowns, their unique meanings and symbols have continued to inspire many facets of our modern world, with influences still seen to this day in movies, games, and more. With such a deep history, Ancient Egypt continues to be one of the most fascinating civilisations to date.
