| Merchants in the Mediterranean sold gold jewelry | | | | techniques by the maritime Phoenicians namely, |
| from Turkey, Egypt and Mesopotamia by 1600BC. | | | | granulation, filigree, inlay and repousse'. |
| The Minoan civilization ( the first developed | | | | Prosperity came to the Etruscans in 800BC after |
| civilization in Europe on the island of Crete) | | | | they colonized Iberia, a county rich in gold |
| produced gold jewelry, filigree, burial masks and | | | | reserves, and maintained a strong system of |
| stamped gold sheeting by 2000BC. By 1500BC, | | | | trade. The Etruscans' technical skill and intricately |
| the Minoans thrived on the success of trade | | | | designed gold jewelry incorporated geometric |
| domination of gold and silver in the Mediterranean. | | | | designs including swastikas, zigzags and triangles |
| Some of the oldest Minoan jewelry makers | | | | that are definitive of Etruscan style. Later |
| created intricate designs for ornamented gold | | | | symbolic designs include half moons, solar discs |
| pendants, earrings and rings that had | | | | and flora of oriental influence. The Etruscans used |
| representations of mystical or naturalistic animal | | | | their borrowed skills to create jewelry not to |
| designs. | | | | wear, but to accompany them in the afterlife. |
| The gold jewelry of the Minoans dates to the | | | | Greek influence is seen on later Etruscan gold |
| Late Bronze Age. The Minoan jewelry makers | | | | jewelry, with images of pomegranates, |
| incorporated beaded stone crystals and glass | | | | mythological creatures, acorns, lotus flower and |
| beads with elaborate gold necklaces into their | | | | palms adorning the gold work. |
| craftsmanship. During the Bronze Age's second | | | | After the Etruscans became part of the Roman |
| phase, around 1450 BC, the Cretan Minoans were | | | | Empire and Roman civilization started to prosper, |
| invaded and conquered by the Mycenaeans from | | | | the city of Rome attracted gold artisans and |
| mainland Greece who influenced the Minoans' | | | | highly talented jewelry makers. Gold jewelry of |
| naturalistic designs with more stylized and | | | | this era includes earrings, headdresses, pendants, |
| abstracted forms. The oldest Minoan gold jewelry | | | | necklaces, gold-encased cameos and rings. The |
| designs found in graves dates to 2400BC. | | | | early official position of jewelry wearing was not |
| Mycenaean culture, together with the influence of | | | | for those without prestige. Rings took on a |
| the Minoans, produced richly jeweled ornaments in | | | | significance of high-status; the wearer initially could |
| the Late Bronze Age (1600-1100BC). | | | | not be of lower class and wear a gold ring. |
| Archaeological excavations have uncovered | | | | By 300BC, this standard was abolished and almost |
| jewelry of this time to be of the highest quality | | | | anyone permitted to adorn a gold ring. Roman |
| including, pendants adorned with gold filigree, | | | | culture is credited by historians in the emergence |
| repousse' beads, bejeweled and inlaid gold finger | | | | of the ring having engagement symbolism still |
| rings. The Mycenaean societies and cities were | | | | used in many cultures around the world today. |
| destroyed in the early Iron Age (1100-800BC) by | | | | The ubiquitous use of gold in Roman times |
| the Dorians, which in turn shut down gold jewelry | | | | expanded beyond the adornment of emperors |
| production and initiated 400 years of dormancy of | | | | and those of high rank and gold began to be |
| ornamental production. After the end of the Dark | | | | included in the production of furniture and |
| Ages, the Etruscans came to prominence in | | | | domestic items for these upper class. Citizens of |
| goldsmith production and design. They, like many | | | | Rome were known to wear necklaces with coins |
| other cultures, relearned the ancient and forgotten | | | | depicting the emperor's image by 300AD. |