Since the ancient Egyptian pharaohs needed to ensure their safe journey to the afterlife so that they could continue looking after their people, they had all the colors and animals necessary to successfully protect and guide them into the afterlife.
Included in their collection of jewelry were representations of antelopes, birds, jackals, tigers, scarabs, and scrolls. A variety of colored stones was also entombed with the pharaoh in order to provide his successful transition to the afterlife.
One of the most important items in the pharaoh’s collection of adornments was his face mask; it had to be accurate so that his soul would recognize his body and be able to return to it. The face masks were made from sheets of gold, and quartz and obsidian were used for the eyes.
King Tut’s Jewelry
King Tut’s tomb yielded magnificent jewelry specimens. One of the most impressive is a very large scarab beetle made from deep blue lapis lazuli. This heart-shaped scarab sports a pair of falcon wings, and an image of the new sun as a large, round, red stone.
A pectoral scarab, part of his coronation jewelry, was also found and symbolizes the birth of the sun and the moon. Decorated with red, blue, and green painted onto gold and inset with a large greenish stone, it was an impressive and heavy amulet for the young king.
A scarab beetle bracelet was found in a box with his possessions and is thought that Tutankhamun wore it as a youth. The bracelet is small in diameter and similar to bracelets placed on his mummy. The scarab bracelet is composed of gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, quartz, and turquoise. Mandrakes flank the sides of the scarab and the edge is crusted with gold flakes.
Although scarab beetles are black, they don’t usually appear in that color in ancient Egyptian jewelry. The exception to this is the two scarab beetles that were placed on the outside of Tut’s mummy and were made of black resin.
Also included in the box that contained the scarab bracelet was a pair of gold cloisonne earrings designed for pierced ears. These long, enameled gold earrings have a picture of the king on their backs and a pair of hybrid birds suspended from each clasp. The birds have falcon wings, duck heads, and their claws hold the sign for infinity.
Some other items of King Tut’s jewelry include:
- Necklace with lunar pectoral
- Scarab necklace with falcon wings
- Scarab bracelet
- Carved bead earrings
- Chased gold falcon collar
- Flexible head bracelet made of beads
- Falcon pectoral
- Gold diadem
- Squatting king figurine
- Triple-string bead necklace
- Penannular earrings
- Stud earrings
- Rigid udjat eye bracelet
- Swivel joint bracelet
- Menet bird
Ancient Egyptian Jewelry Facts
- Earrings were new to royalty in King Tut’s time and probably were brought from Western Asia.
- Ancient Egyptian jewelry is considered some of the most beautiful in the world.
- Lapis lazuli, the most popular Egyptian stone, had to be imported. It was not indigenous to the area.
- Although the scarab beetle is used more often than any other animal, it is seldom portrayed in its natural color of black.
- The scarab was thought to hold extremely high religious and magical powers and was believed to be a symbol of rebirth.
- Babies often wore pendants to protect them from evil spirits because the infant mortality rate was so high.
- Jewelry had to be surrendered if one was defeated in battle.
- Gold represented the flesh of the gods in ancient Egyptian jewelry.
- Amulets and collar pieces were placed between each layer of wrapping on a mummy in order to provide protection rather than as adornment.
- King Tut’s mummy had 11 collar pieces and 20 amulets in its wrappings.
