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Egyptian Artifacts

Ptolemaic Gold Wreath

Much like today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ was very valued in the ancient world. This Ptolemaic Gold Wreath that I am standing with at the Brooklyn Museum is an exquisite piece!

Ptolemaic Gold Wreath
Me with a Ptolemaic Gold Wreath at the Brooklyn Museum

Fun fact: in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, silver π“Œ‰π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ was actually considered to be more valuable because it was harder to obtain through trade! Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– itself does not naturally have a lot of silver π“Œ‰π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰! Silver π“Œ‰π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ was associated with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή, while gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ was associated with the sun 𓇳𓏺!Β 

This piece is from the Ptolemaic Period (3rd century-2nd century B.C.E.), and it has a very obvious Greek influence. When Alexander the Great π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒβ€œconquered” Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, it resulted in the merging of Greek/Macedonian and Egyptian cultures!Β 

Ptolemaic Gold Wreath
A closeup of the Ptolemaic Gold Wreath on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

Many different types of wreaths π“Œ΄π“„Ώπ“Ž›π“†°π“¦ were made in ancient Greece using different plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰. The β€œplant 𓇐𓅓𓆰” used in this wreath π“Œ΄π“„Ώπ“Ž›π“†° may be the laurel, which was associated with the Greek god π“ŠΉ Apollo. 

While gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ wreaths π“Œ΄π“„Ώπ“Ž›π“†°π“¦ like this one could be used to crown athletic victors, it could have also been used in a funerary context. The wreath π“Œ΄π“„Ώπ“Ž›π“†° pictured is most likely one that had a funerary purpose. The wreaths π“Œ΄π“„Ώπ“Ž›π“†°π“¦ worn by the living were most likely made of real flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦. 

Gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ is a very malleable material, meaning that it can be easily shaped and bent into various shapes. While a great property to have when considering art, this also means that anything made of gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ is extremely delicate. Most gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ jewelry made today is actually an alloy – meaning gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ is mixed with another metal to make it more durable. 

Due to the delicate nature of these wreaths π“Œ΄π“„Ώπ“Ž›π“†°π“¦, there are only four 𓏽 surviving today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³!

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