| The Ancient Greeks were aficionados of jewelry, | | | | and chalcedony during Hellenic rule. |
| wearing simple to complex jewelry often | | | | Etruscan jewelry, highly influenced by Greek |
| complemented with effigies of the Greek Gods | | | | culture, produced a large amount of intricate and |
| Eros, Nike, Artemis, Isis and Aphrodite. Mycenae, | | | | ornate jewelry styles that further influenced the |
| the ancient Grecian city ruled by King | | | | Romans. The Etruscans developed granulation |
| Agamemnon, was the center for jewelry | | | | (where the surface of gold was soldered with tiny |
| production in the 2nd millennium B.C. The | | | | grains of gold to create a delicate pattern) dated |
| Mycenaeans created jewelry of beads in the | | | | to the 7th century BC. By the end of the |
| shape of animals and shells, gold, amethyst, | | | | Etruscan Period, as they were absorbed by the |
| emeralds, pearls, agate and other semi-precious | | | | Roman Empire in the 3rd century BC, the ornate |
| stones in the evolution of their jewelry production | | | | designs were replaced by more austere qualities |
| from 1,400 BC- 300 BC. | | | | and filigree (fine wire work with silver or gold) |
| The Greeks created the cameo, produced by | | | | was utilized. The Phoenicians contributed colorful |
| using an agate stone striated with pink, cream or | | | | beads, inlay and enameling. Rings of this period |
| brown also called Indian Sardonyx. As jewelry | | | | included a scarab or single set gemstones in an |
| design and techniques became more complex, | | | | oval formation set in an engraved bezel. |
| they developed a laurel wreath to be worn as a | | | | As the Romans came to power the |
| crown of honor by scholars and heroes, sacred | | | | craftsmanship of jewelry included many natural |
| laurel leaves represented Apollo, the god of | | | | resources found in the vast regions of the |
| prophecy and intellect. Pendant earrings bedecked | | | | Mediterranean and European continents. Romans |
| with Nike, Eros or dove figurines became popular | | | | invented the brooch which was used primarily for |
| fashion of the times. Pendants in the shape of | | | | holding robes together. Gold continued to figure |
| Amphorae (the classic two-handled vase shape) | | | | prominently and hemispheres constructed into |
| ornamented with enamel or gemstones, hung by | | | | bracelets, earrings and necklaces came into |
| a rosette and capped with the crown of Isis. | | | | fashion. Bronze, pearls, bone, emerald and glass |
| Spherical or wide chains of gold were worn as | | | | beads were used, complementing the gold |
| necklaces with hanging calyxes or fruit and clasps | | | | settings. Although early Roman jewelry style |
| of animal heads or dolphins. The Greeks were | | | | borrowed from established Greek and Etruscan |
| fond of wearing gold wreaths as ornamental | | | | design, new motifs such as the Heracles knot |
| headdresses, elaborately decorated with flowers, | | | | (two loops intertwined) with an apotropaic figurine |
| acorns, foliage or images of Eros and Nike. Greek | | | | for averting evil spirits or bad luck was introduced. |
| gold rings were set with gemstones or sealstones | | | | In 330BC, hoop earrings became fashionable with |
| (containing an engraving used for seals). | | | | finial elements of animal heads, figure of Eros, |
| After the fall of Greece by Alexander the Great's | | | | maenads and negroes. Cameo portraits on rings |
| viscious conquest, the Hellenistic age begins, dating | | | | and pendants and coiled gold snake-shaped |
| 330-27BC. Jewelry of this time was influenced by | | | | bracelets made an appearance at this time. Upper |
| the Far East and Egypt, initiating new fashions, | | | | class women of Roman times wore extensive |
| tastes and styles not only in jewelry design but | | | | amounts of jewelry and men were expected to |
| overall aesthetics of life. Gold became the | | | | adorn themselves with a minimum of one ring, |
| dominating metal accompanied by gemstones | | | | made of gold or carved stone including a seal |
| such as amethyst, cornelian, garnet, rock crystal | | | | stone for wax-sealing important documents. |