Art, obsession, and identity
A gold armlet from ancient Persia featuring lion-griffin terminals inlaid with precious stones, from the 5th-4th centuries BCE.
An embossed gold bulla, an amulet worn like a locket, from the Etruscan civilization, circa 4th century BCE.
A golden earring dating back to the 7th-6th centuries BCE and the Phoenician civilization.
A lapis lazuli and carnelian necklace with gold pendants of the Sumerian civilization, circa 3rd century BCE.
A gold bracelet from the Etruscan civilization, 7th century BCE.
This arched gold fibula (metal brooch) dates back to the Etruscan civilization, from the 7th century BCE.
This Egyptian earthenware pectoral with blue pearls was made sometime in the 5th-4th centuries BCE.
A beaded Egyptian collar, dated back to around the 1st century BCE.
This Egyptian necklace with three rams' heads crowned with a sun disk in gold and turquoise dates back to 715-332 BCE.
A Roman rock crystal ring decorated with a bust of woman, dated back to the 1st century CE.
This gold shield-shaped pendant with a female head, possibly Medusa, is from 200-150 BCE.
A Bronze Age twisted torc, crafted in Egypt sometime between 2600 and 750 BCE.
An amber necklace made in the 5th century BCE during the Samnite civilization.
Probably from Egypt, this pendant in gold, emerald, and garnet dates back to the 2nd century BCE.
This intricately adorned gold necklace is Roman in origin, probably from the 1st century BCE.
Cowrie shells inspired the design of this gold bead neck ring, dated back to Egypt around 220-100 BCE.
This gold ring with a carnelian ring stone is Greek 5th century BCE in origin.
A snake bracelet from the Roman period, 1st century CE.
A pair of gold earrings with an Egyptian Atef crown set with stones and glass from the Hellenistic period, circa the 3rd-2nd centuries BCE.
A pair of Greek hoop earrings with antelope head finials in gold, made in Egypt around 220-100 BCE.
These Greek-Cypriot gold spiral earring with lion-griffin terminal were crafted c. 400–350 BCE.
A finely carved circular jade bi-disc, decorated on both sides with a continuous single band of five partially dissolved dragons' heads and bodies, is typical of the early Warring States period in China, from the 6th-5th centuries BCE.
This Shang dynasty jade necklace comes from Xingan, in China's Jiangxi province. The Shang ruled from 1766 to 1122 BCE.
A Celtic ring from the 4th-5th centuries BCE, probably made in Ireland.
This unusual type of torc, a large rigid or stiff neck ring in metal, seems to be modeled on necklaces made of large pearls decorated with moldings. It's identified as being Celtic in origin, from the 1st century CE.
A silver-gilt annular brooch from Ireland. It dates back to the Viking era.
An exquisitely crafted annular brooch made in Ireland during the Viking era.
This Etruscan scarab gold ring with an engraved carnelian stone of an archer, possibly Odysseus, is late 5th century BCE in origin.
This Hellenistic gold necklace chain interlinked with four gold dolphins and five twisted wire beads is Greek in origin, from the 3rd century BCE.
Sources: (World History Encyclopedia) (History) (Britannica) (Live Science)
See also: A history of jewelry
A Roman sardonyx cameo, perhaps representing a woman of the imperial house of Diana, goddess of hunting, dated back to 25-50 CE.
The ancient world was renowned for its skilled artisans. Jewelers especially were celebrated for their intricate craftsmanship. The beautiful and exquisite rings, necklaces, brooches, and earrings made millennia ago are so dazzling in their design and detail that they look as new and appealing these days as they surely must have in antiquity. In fact, you could probably wear much of it today and still turn heads in awe and envy. So, how good was the jewelry being crafted all those centuries ago?
Click through and see how well you could wear it.
Jewelry from antiquity you could still wear today
These pieces were made millennia ago, but still dazzle in their appearance
LIFESTYLE History
The ancient world was renowned for its skilled artisans. Jewelers especially were celebrated for their intricate craftsmanship. The beautiful and exquisite rings, necklaces, brooches, and earrings made millennia ago are so dazzling in their design and detail that they look as new and appealing these days as they surely must have in antiquity. In fact, you could probably wear much of it today and still turn heads in awe and envy. So, how good was the jewelry being crafted all those centuries ago?
Click through and see how well you could wear it.