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 History of Earrings and Jewelry Facts

• Earrings have been around since 2000 - 3000 B.C.  
• 1st Archaeological evidence of earrings dates back to Iraq, from the Persian Empire    
• Popular among Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Assyrians   
• Two specific types of earrings worn: Pendants and Hoops  
• Symbolized wealth, honor, social or class status and personal/political identity.   
• Pendants with gemstones were commonly worn during the Roman Empire   
• Earrings were usually worn by men in ancient times

 

 

Greece - Gold Earrings

 1-2nd Century B.C.

Greece - Gold Earrings

16th century B.C.

Roman - Amethyst Gemstone Pendant

212 AD

 

Syria - Gold Earrings

11th century

 

Iran - Gold Wire Earrings 11-12th century

Further Resources:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jewellery - Wikipedia