Greece

Part 6 - Ancient Jewelry 1100-after 27 BC

Home


Fig 7 Five rosettes from a diadem. They were attached to a leather or cloth band (4 of electrum and the last of gold). From Melos. 7th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, XP 1177-1181. 

Fig. 8 Gold pendants, "bees". From Thera. 
7th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, XP. 1065

Fig. 9 Gold band earrings from Sindos. 
Late 6th century BC.
Archaeological Museum Thessaloniki, 7975

Fig 15 Gold necklace from Eretria. 
5th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, XP 10. 

Fig. 10 Gold band earrings from Chalkidiki.
Last quarter of 6th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, ST. 175

Fig 11 Gold rosettes with enamel. Possibly from the Hellenspont. 
Early 4th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, ST 305. 

Fig. 12 Pair of earrings. Peleus wrestling with Thetis. From Eretria.
5th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, XP. 928). 

Fig. 13 Gold earrings of boat-shape type with cock-horse.
First half of 5th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, ST. 237. 

Fig. 14 Gold rings from tombs at Eretria, on the bezel intaglio representation of Nike. 
5th century BC.
Athens, National Archaeological Museum, XP. 680. 

Fig. 16 Gold fibula classical period. 
Athens, Benaki Museum.
 

Archaic and Classical periods
Though metalworking developed apace during the Archaic period (600-475 BC) there are but scant examples of the goldsmith's art in Greece at that time (figs 9,10). This dearth of gold jewellery (mainly silver, bronze or iron pieces have survived) can perhaps be explained by the Persian Wars and the fact that the Persians controlled the Middle East, and consequently the amount of gold available. However, jewellery-making continued without break throughout this period, the Greek jewellers turning their attentions to markets abroad, producing Graeco-Scythian, Graeco-Thracian, Graeco-Etruscan and Graeco-Celtic ornaments. So when the Persian Wars were over Greek jewellery-making carried on uninterrupted, creating exquisite works with some notable changes in technique.

The bracelets are formed from a pennanular tube with animal-head terminals. The rings have round or pointed oval bezels with intaglio or embossed ornaments and are (fig.14) sometimes set with scarabs and later sealstones. A few necklaces have been preserved intact. One of the loveliest is from Eretria, with bull's head at the centre and acorn and ovoid beads (fig.15). The diadems are usually simple with embossed ornaments bands, the wreaths, gold, gilded or silver, are rendered naturalistically. The pins are more elegant and the fibulae usually of silver (fig.16).

 


Greece jewellery pages Copyright © by Add Information Systems. (Greece)