As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth and richness. In Ancient Greek culture jewellery was worn in everyday life but was also buried with the deceased as part of his or her funerary outfit. Greek goldsmiths and artisans inherited their techniques from Egypt and Mesopotamia; however, they managed to create and develop a unique style. Gold became the primary decorative material, although silver, lead, bronze and electrum were also used. Skilled artisans worked the gold in thin leaves, combining it with precious and semi-precious stones, to create beautifully modelled necklaces, pendants, rings and earrings. After the arrival of metallurgy, the Greeks began to create increasingly complex designs to reflect and represent the wealth and power of Greek nobility.
To find out more about different metal decorative techniques in antiquity please see our relevant blog post: Decorative Metalwork Techniques
