All five of the faience fruit and flower-shaped beads featured on this necklace are intrinsically linked not only to aspects of everyday life in Ancient Egypt but also to the idea of after life. Indeed, lotus flowers grew on the Nile and were deeply admired by the Egyptians for their scent and beauty, but also because they were related to creation myths and therefore symbolised creation and rebirth. Grapes, on the other hand, were cultivated there and used to make wine which played an important role in ceremonies. Finally, dates were the most common and appreciated fruit, to such an extent that it is said that the Ancient Egyptian word to describe them also meant ‘sweet’.
To discover more about amulets in the Ancient world, please visit our relevant blog post: Apotropaic Art: Amulets and Phallic Pendants in Ancient Cultures.
