One of the most popular types of jewelry amongst the elite – including the pharaohs ππ»π¦ and royal family is known as the broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ. In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was π ±π΄ππΊπ (pronounced βwesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph π could be used for the whole word. This particular broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ was made during the late 18th Dynasty.
The broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ was the necklace of choice by both the gods πΉπΉπΉ and the pharaohs ππ»π¦ and it reached peak popularity during the 18th Dynasty. Broad collars π ±π΄ππΊππ¦ could be made of many different types of materials, including gold ππππ, but the one shown in this picture are made of blue ππΉππΏπΈπ₯ faience π£πππΈπΌ beads. This broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ is in almost perfect condition!
Underneath the broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ is actually a spoon! It is not a spoon that was used for eating, but instead used to hold ointment π΄πΌππ. The top part of the spoon swivels open! It is fashioned after a pomegranate ππππ π, and the spoon part itself is supposed to be a pomegranate ππππ π fruit. Fun fact: pomegranate ππππ π flowers and fruit never appear on the plant at the same time, so maybe the spoon is representative of the growth from flowers to fruit/the life cycle of the plant??!! We will never know!