In the Museum's collection is a set of gold jewellery called the "Ganymede Jewellery," dating from about 330 to 300 B.C. These pieces-which include earrings, a strap necklace, fibulae (pins), bracelets, and a ring-were found together in Macedonia, near Thessaloniki. Our Ram's Head Bangle, which is crafted of 24K gold overlay with an adjustable, twisting body for a flexible fit, is based on a pair of rock crystal and gold ram's head bracelets that were found with this treasure. 24K gold overlay. Matte finish. Inner circumference: 5 1/4''L. Adjustable, braided design for a flexible fit.
- 24K gold overlay
- Adjustable, braided design for a flexible fit
- Inner circumference: 5 1/4''
Jewellery played an essential role in ancient Greek life, ritual, and death. Fashionable Greeks used jewellery to display wealth and prestige. Women wore earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and finger rings, as well as the more extravagant wreaths, diadems, and breast pendants. Jewellery was offered as gifts to the gods at turning points in people's lives, and was conspicuous in celebrations of marriage and birth. The deceased often were buried wearing favourite pieces, or funerary adornments might be made especially for entombment. While often colourfully enamelled, classical Greek jewellery, unlike that of the Egyptians or Romans, tended to exclude gemstones. Though most surviving examples are of gold, less precious pieces in silver and bronze were probably more commonplace.