Jewellery is thought to be one of the oldest forms of art within history, with the presence of rings, bangles and necklaces’ being present in almost all ancient societies. Many grand civilisations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity is witnessed by the very sophisticated, interesting, and unique styles of jewellery discovered in the area. Precious metals, such as gold, silver, and electrum, along with gemstones and other semi-precious stones, like lapis lazuli, agate and carnelian, were popular materials in Western Asiatic jewellery, showing off the wearer’s wealth and social status. Necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets were worn not only in everyday life but were also buried with the deceased.
To discover more about gemstones in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Jewellery in Antiquity.
