Wednesday

A Brief History in Religious Jewelry

Jewelry is a broad term that describes any ornamental adornment on the body. This includes foot rings to tiaras and everything in between. Jewelry has been used in every culture throughout history and in many different ways. While in our culture today largely serving the purpose of jewelry that are aesthetic, jewelry can serve other functions as well. Jewelry is used to represent the social level or acting, age, marital status, and tribal affinity. In addition, jewelry serves as a symbol of religious, social, and political. In fact, one of the first use of jewelry is to show religious affiliation. The following are the major culture began to use religious jewelry and common symbols and use their jewelry.

Egypt's Religious Jewelry

Religious jewelry in Ancient Egypt is highly symbolic. Some common symbols in Ancient Egypt's religious jewelry including the scarab (a beetle), Lotus, snake, Eagle, and eyes. The Scarab is the symbol of good luck and revival while the "Eye of Horus" represent healing. A common symbol of the time called "Ankh" is meant to represent eternal life. Religious jewelry is wasteful, consisting of gold and semi-precious stones and is worn by both men and women. When the Roman Era arrived, Egypt's religious jewelry made from cheap materials and other symbols used in Christianity. When Islam came to Egypt men are prohibited from wearing gold jewelry. At the time of this sterling silver jewelry is becoming more popular in jewelry religion in Egypt. Religious jewelry is still widely used in Egypt, but did not have the same luxury as Ancient Egypt's religious jewelry.

Roman Christianity and Religious Jewelry

Art and architecture flourished when St Constantine Christianized Roman Empire. At this point some popular symbols are created that are still used in Christian art and jewelry. These symbols include crosses, Rosary, and Christian fish charm. The cross is a symbol of God's love and a reminder of the suffering of Christ. The Rosary is a prayer beads which began in Roman Christendom but is now used predominantly by the Catholic Church (officially accepted by the Catholic Church during the approval of the Rosary in 1520). Rosario is also used in the Islamic and Buddhist faith. Christian Fish charm appeared when the early Christians would make an acronym with the word Greece for fish, "Ichthys," Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter (Jesus Christ, son of God, Savior). This symbol attracts less attention to Christians who are persecuted. Christian charm is still very popular today.


Native American Jewelry

Native American religious jewelry is a symbol of nature, play a role in religious ceremonies, and the status is represented. Natural ingredients are used in the jewelry they include feathers along with minerals such as turquoise and metals such as silver. Natural ingredients are a reminder of the earth around them. During healing ceremonies and rituals of harvest, people will be careful to wear certain types of religious jewelry is the right color, made from the right materials, and represent an appropriate symbol for the show. Jewelry worn by a person is representative of the various stages of the life of a person has been entered. In some tribes of teens become adults when they started receiving spiritual totem consists of shells, beads, or symbols of nature. Native American religious jewelry is also given to women after the first menstruation and for newly married couples. Religious jewelry has played an important role in native American culture.