The Background and History of Ancient Egyptian Animal Earrings

THE BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ANIMAL EARRINGS
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The Background and History of Ancient Egyptian Animal Earrings
Abstract
Following a period of 100 thousand years after the invention of the firm's simple jewelry that was made from animal skin, bones and seashells appeared in Africa. Egypt was considered as one of the most dominant civilizations in the ancestral history since the nation was empowered by advanced innovations and technologies, a culture of royalty and nobles who appreciated the rarity of mass produced jewel items as a result of the nation’s access to precious gems and metals. This made Egypt turn out as one of the leading forces of jewelry manufacturers and the creators of different fashion trends that still live in this age, an element that is subject to research.
Introduction
According to history, the significant moments that defined the start of Egypt’s conquest in the production of jewelry took center stage when gold was discovered in the country and the manner in which this gem would be collected from the available riverbeds. This enabled the Egyptians to engage in the collection of vast quantities of gold which the communities considered as the best material for the creation of exquisite jewelry designs. Beginning with the Predynastic Egypt, golden jewels became a symbol of the nation’s status, religion, and power, an aspect that enabled the state to become to focus on the royal and noble families who made demands on the need to create more elaborate jewel designs.[. Marchetti, Nicolò. 2012. "KARKEMISH ON THE EUPHRATES: Excavating a City's History." Near Eastern Archaeology 75, no. 3: 132-147]
Besides gold and other materials that were commonly found in Egypt, many other materials were imported from other nations and used as favorite materials in the production of Egyptian Scrub ornaments. For several of the worlds, the element of body modification resulted from Egypt, an aspect that emerged with the aim of provoking the interest of the world. Earlobes were man’s first attempt in piercing in Egypt. The primary reasons for piecing as originated in Egypt vary significantly. Firstly, some people engage in the piercing of their ears for spiritual and religious reasons, while others consider this aspect as an act of self-expression. On the other hand, others consider this act as an element that appeases their aesthetic values, thus affirming their cultures. This paper, therefore, seeks to conduct a research study on the background and history of ancient Egyptian animal earrings.[. Faerman, Marina, et al. "Molecular archaeology: People, animals, and plants of the Holy Land." Israel Journal Of Earth Sciences 56, no. 2-4 (May 15, 2013): 217-229]
Research Problem
This research study seeks to discover:
1 What was the background and history of ancient Egyptian animal earrings?
2 Why animals (Leopard and Snake) in ancient Egypt had higher positions rather than some people?
3 Why ancient Egyptian people considered animals (Leopard and Snake) as the symbols for gods?
4 What are the functions or meaning behind these animals (Leopard and Snake)?
5 What does the animal earring (Leopard and Snake) symbolize for both males and males in ancient Egypt?
Research Objectives
1 This research study seeks to disclose the relationship that exists between animal histories and earrings during the ancient period of Egypt.
2 Moreover, the research will hint on why animals in ancient Egypt held higher positions compared to people, an aspect that fans the need to symbolic attributes of these creatures.
3 The paper will equally unveil the functions and meanings of animals within the Egyptian context and what the animal earrings symbolized for both the males and females in ancient Egypt.
Methodology
The study undertakes a review of different literatures on the history of Egypt, with particular inference to the background of ancient Egyptian animal earrings. Given this, the study aims at identifying some of the gaps that exist in information regard to understanding the history and background of the ancient Egyptian animal earrings. Attempts were made in making discovering from the Egyptian Department of the National Museum of Antiquities through phone interviews with the personnel’s. On the other hand, the participants were required to provide information the history of Egypt to achieve the objectives of this study.
The Background and History of Ancient Egyptian Animal Earrings
Literature Review
For close to 30 centuries following the unification that occurred in the years between 3100 B.C until the Alexander the Great’s conquest in 332 B.C, ancient Egypt was perceived as the dominant civilization all over the world. From Egypt’s great pyramids of Old Kingdom to the new kingdom’s military conquest, there is a long record of accomplishment of Egypt’s majesty on entranced archeologists and historians, an aspect that resulted in the creation of a vibrant society that made use of traditional signs and symbols that imposed foreign languages and cultures during the Ancient era. An aspect that emerges is the rich culture that equates the beauty of art weaved through the accomplishment of architecture and religious traditions. As established, the Egyptians were viewed as a religious people, with both the men and the women wearing earrings and other jewels for the prime purpose of religion. The Egyptians downed their jewels for several reasons as detailed in this paper, with most of them considering jewels for religious purposes. In other words, the Egyptians held on to the belief that the jewels, with particular inference to the earrings had the capacity to protect them from mystical beings. On the other hand, earrings were dawned on the dead as well since the ancient Egyptians believed that corpses needed elaborate jewels to pass on to their afterlife.[. Ibid. 1] [. Stewart, Doug. "Eternal Egypt." Smithsonian 33, no. 3 (June 2011): 74. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost ]
The ancient Egyptians came across several different gems in as much as it was challenging to work with these gems. The lower social classes in Egypt frequently wore jewels that were made from bronze or copper, with the bronze earrings having gold leaves on them. Other types of stones that were viewed as popular during this time include: silver, lapis, turquoise, alabaster, beryl, garnet and quartz. There were several different types of jewelries, with the most common being those made from beads and animal hides, an aspect that received immense favor from nobility. Given this, it is significant to understand that many of the ancient Egyptians were of different social classes who mainly wore amulets. Amulets were perceived to protect individuals or give them magical powers, with the carvings made to depict different kinds of elements such as humans, animals, gods, and symbols. On the other hand, finger rings were prone during this period. Finger rings were made out of gold, silver, and copper; with the top of the ring bearing an image of animals that include beetles, turquoise, or scarabs.
Leopard and Snake according to the Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians were so fond of animals. In most cases, the Egyptians had animals that were treated as sacred while some were perceived to be pets and others used in farming. Animals were considered as sacred within the context of the Egyptians since they were associated with one of their gods or g...