Queen Cleopatra: Ancient Jewelry of Egypt

Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Egypt. She ruled alongside her brother between 51-30 B.C. after their father's death. Egyptian tradition required Cleopatra to marry her younger brother to keep status of ruler. Over the course of her reign, she was believed to be one of the most powerful female pharaohs in the Egyptian patriarchal society. She engaged in a relationship Julius Caesar and had a son, then with Marc Anthony and bore three children.

To the left is a gold box ring


On the right is a gold bracelet featuring two serpents that symbolizes protection.

Jewelry from the Cleopatra museum exhibit

Blue portrait print of Cleopatra VII

 Resources:

Historical Life of Cleopatra

Early Life of Cleopatra

Women's History: Cleopatra

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry of Nefertiti

Queen Nefertiti was the wife of Egyptian Pharaoh, Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV). She reigned for 12 years with her husband during the 18th dynasty, 14th century B.C. Nefertiti and her husband transferred the religion of Egyptian society from polytheism to monotheism. They crafted a cult that worshiped one god: Aten, the Egyptian Sun God. Researchers believe that this disruption in religious beliefs caused hostility among people in ancient Egyptian society. Nefertiti's death is unknown and not specified in historical records because her mummy (body) was not found in any tombs. However, she is regarded as one of the most powerful female rulers of Egypt.

Gold Ring of Queen Nefertiti and King Akhenaten

 Gold scarab and ring with Nefertiti's name inscribed on it

Egyptian necklace (collar)

Resources:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Who was Queen Nefertiti?

Life of Queen Nefertiti

Ancient Greek Jewelry: History of Earrings

Greek Jewelry contains pure gold and gemstones such as garnet, agate, emeralds, and pearls. Hellenistic jewelry includes bangles, bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants and armbands. Handcrafted earrings from Ancient Greece. Craft your own project at home. Get inspired start a project by mimicking earrings from historical times. Teach yourself how to make antiquity jewelry by wire wrapping using gold and silver plated wire.  Why not give it a try?

Gold Earrings of Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory.  

225-175 B.C.

  

Gold and Garnet Dangling Earrings

2nd - 3rd Century B.C.

Large Dangling Gold Earrings with Discs

300 B.C.

Hellenistic Period

 

 

 

Gold Earrings

100 - 50 B.C.

  

          Gold and Garnet Earrings 

4th Century B.C.

 

                   Gold Earrings with Discs                              

                   3rd - 4th Century B.C. 

Pair of Gold Earrings

3rd - 4th Century B.C.

For More Information:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wikimedia Commons

Ancient Roman Jewelry and Earrings

Jewelry and Earrings from Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire. Both men and women wore handmade jewelry pieces including bracelets, earrings, rings, collars and necklaces. Romans wore gemstone pendants and pearls that  wire wrapped around gold. 

Gold Earring with Pearl

2nd-3rd Century AD

Earrings with Agate Pendant

3rd Century AD

Garnet Earrings

1st Century AD

Gold and Variscite Earring, 2nd Century 
 AD

 

 

 

Garnet Earrings,

 1st -3rd Century AD  

Gold Loop Earrings

2nd-3rd Century

 

Gold and Garnet Earrings

 1st -3rd Century AD