MysticalCharm.com

Nearly everyone is familiar with Ancient Egyptian jewelry.  From the necklaces and other peices found in King Tut’s tomb to what we see on display at local museums, most people stand in awe of what an acient culture was able to do with gold, silver and jewels.

Established jewelry making in Egypt began between 3000 – 5ooo years ago.  Egyptian preferred gold over other materials because it was rare and easy to work with.  Jewelry in Egypt soon became a symbol of power, both political and religious, in the community.  Jewelry was worn in both life and death as a persons favorite pieces were often included in grave goods.

Although Egyptians had access to jewels, they preferred to work with glass.  They liked the colors they could get working with glass as well as having the control over the final product.  For every gem that could be mined, the Egyptians had a glass “gem” to mimic it.  The color of the jewelry was also very important.  The Egyptian Book of the Dead stated that the necklace of Isis around a mummy’s neck had to be red to satisfy Isis’ need for blood.  Green jewelry meant fertility for the crops.

Although some of the materials had to be imported, such as Lapis lazuli and silver, emerald (a favorite of Cleopatra) was mined in the Red Sea.  Egyptian designs were most common in Phoenician jewelry.  Ancient Turkish designs found in Persian jewelry suggest that trade between the Middle East and Europe was not uncommon.

Mystical Charm is pleased to offer Egyptian jewelry.  From Egyptian Birth Signs to The Jewels of Atum Ra.

Tags: egypt, history, jewelry

Everyone knows about Ra, the Egyptian Sun God. Amun-Ra was the original creator, the primeval deity. In Thebes Amun-Ra became associated with the “Breath of Life”.  As Amun-Ra grew in importance he became the sun god as well as “Lord of truth, father of the Gods, maker of men, creator of all animals, Lord of things that are, creator of the staff of life”. He is also the father of Shu, Tefnut, and the remainder of the Ennead.

Osiris is one of the oldest of the Egyptian Deities. He is the shepherd of the dead to the underworld where their soul will be weighed against the feather of truth. Osiris is not only shepherd of the dead but also the underworld agency that governed life including the flooding of the Nile which brought fertility to the region.

Maat is the personification of order in the universe. Often depicted as a goddess holding a scepter. She was the goddess of harmony, law, order and truth. Ancient Egyptian Law was based around the Tenets of Ma’at. Maat was also the judge of the dead after making it to the underworld. The soul of the dead (thought to be in the heart) was weighed against a single feather from Maat. If the scales were in balance, the dead was allowed to enter the underworld.

Seth (Set or Setekh) was the god of deserts and chaos. He is depicted as a man with the head of no known creature. He was the chief god of Upper Egypt and carried the epithet “His Majesty” a title shared only with Ra.

Bast is the patron deity of Egypt. Bast is an ancient solar and was goddess. She is also the protector goddess of Lower Egypt. Bast is often depicted as a lioness or a cat.

This is a very short excerpt of information. The amount of information about each god or goddess is immense and fills volumes. For more information about these gods and more
please visit Mystical Charm.

Tags: Amun-Ra, egypt, goddesses, gods, Maat, Osiris, Set