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Much of the jewelry in Ancient Greece, the Hellenistic Period specifically (c. 323 BCE–31 BCE), was made of gold. Gold was used before but became especially popular after Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire which resulted in more intense trade in this stock in the Hellenistic world.
Significant innovations in Greek jewelry can be traced even earlier to the time of Philip II of Macedon (r. 360/359–336 B.C.), father of Alexander the Great. An increasingly affluent society demanded luxurious objects, especially gold jewelry.
As today, ancient Greek jewellery came in all shapes and forms, rings, bracelets, necklaces and hair ornaments etc. and was mostly made from gold, inlaid with semi-precious stones, gemstones and pearls. Much of the jewellery of the ancients has been discovered in excavated tombs.
The Ancient Grecians used their jewelry to represent the high rank of their gods, goddesses, and important events in Ancient Greek history, through picturesque pendants, detailed filigree techniques, and granule work.
Jewelry in ancient Greece was viewed as a symbol of power, social status, ward against evil, celebration of the gods and was most often used by female members of wealthy class. Even though they received techniques for making gold items from the nearby kingdoms of Egypt and Mesopotamia around 3 thousand years ago, they managed to retain they ...
Many different types of jewelry existed during this time: hair ornaments, thigh and arm bands, earrings, rings, pins and pendants, and necklaces. Besides gold, gemstones, semi-precious stones and pearls often decorated the ornamental pieces.
When describing jewelry from Greece one should start with the Minoans. Around 3000 BC signs of a new civilisation on the island Crete started to emerge. The origin of this new culture most likely lies in Asia Minor, a theory that is supported by the jewelry the Minoans produced.
Pendants, diadems, hair ornaments, beads, and bracelets are examples of popular Ancient Greek jewelry from this time period. The Minoans made huge use of gold sheets, as well as Eastern-influenced techniques like granulation and filigree.
Ancient Greek earrings were exquisite pieces of jewelry that served as symbols of beauty, status, and cultural identity. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, Greek earrings came in various styles, shapes, and materials, reflecting the artistic diversity of the ancient Greek world.
The land of Greece has seen the birth of one of the richest jewellery traditions in the world, with a history that can be traced back to prehistoric times. Pieces of exceptional artistry have been discovered in Crete and on other Aegean islands where the Minoan civilisation had flourished.