Ancient Greek Jewelry

Ancient Greek Jewelry
What are the dates which cover the Ancient Greek period? Ancient Greek Jewelry was produced during the following dates: 1400 BC - 31 BC - From the early Early Mycenaean Age to the Hellenistic period.

Overview of the Fashion and Design of Ancient Greek Jewelry
The overview of Ancient Greek Jewelry is as follows:

Ancient Greek Jewelry designs and fashion
Jewellery designs and fashion included animals, insects and shells together with motifs depicting men, women and mythological figures and entire heroic scenes

Types of Jewellry
Jewelry types included necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings and head jewellery.

Gemstones used in Ancient Greek Jewelry
Gemstones used included amethyst, pearls, chalcedony, cornelian, garnet and emeralds.

The Influences of Ancient Greek Jewelry
What influenced Ancient Greek Jewelry? Early Mycenaean Greek jewelry design and fashions consisted of semi-precious stones and beads shaped like shells and animals.

Contact with the more advanced civilizations of the East and Egypt influenced Greek jewellery during the Hellenistic period (330-27 BC) which were initiated by the conquests of Alexander the Great. By the end of this period the Greek jewellers had mastered the art of carving and engraving and the use of various colored gemstones such as amethyst, garnets and emeralds into their jewelry designs.

The Skills of Greek Jewellers
Greek jewellers became extremely skilled in the production of intricate miniature motifs. Enamelling and filigree work was employed and Classic Greek jewellery was extremely delicate and very refined. Jewelry became an art form in its own right, resembling miniature classic sculptures depicting men, women and mythological figures and entire heroic scenes. The jewellers used gold and silver together with pearls, emeralds, garnets, cornelians, amethysts and pearls.

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