Egypt rose in its time to become a rich and developed civilization. With this prosperity came advances in agriculture, art and jewelry design. Most exquisite pieces were crafted to adorn the royal class, but ornamentation was also a prominent part of Egyptian culture in general. Mostly everyone in Egyptian society, from the poorest farmer to the Pharaoh, wore at least some kind of bracelet or necklace. Both men and women were decorated with various gems and precious metals. 
The two most common components of their jewelry were copper and gold, both in abundant supply. Egyptians discovered gold in their riverbeds and mined them for their use. Gold was an important element in their designs because it never loses its brilliance; even today the complex gold displays in their tombs look relatively untouched.
Egypt is the site of the largest excavations of ancient jewelry work. Tombs were filled with sparkling jewels, and mummies were covered in decorative gold coffins. Thankfully for us, most of these displays were perfectly preserved, intended only for
use by the deceased in the afterlife.
The tombs of Tutankhamun and other famous rulers show us their magnificent burial customs. Of course, the use of gold is important to represent immortality for the dead and to connect to the splendor of the gods. Other essential gems include lapis lazuli, turquoise, garnet, and obsidian. The Lapis Lazuli Scarab from the tomb of Tutankhamun is one famous example.
Most of these precious stones were imported from other kingdoms, but a few gems, such as emerald, were native to Egypt and just as popular. Emerald, which represents eternity and fertility, was Cleopatra’s gem of choice, and she was often depicted adorned with emeralds or offering them to others. Although much of her life is shrouded in mystery, we do know that she often wore a large, flat colorful beaded necklace, as well as her iconic jeweled headdress. Archaeologists hope to one day find her and Mark Antony’s tomb, so we can discover the true glory of her wealth and beauty.
Egyptian jewelry design was so popular and innovative that it was also found in nearby territories such as Greece and Turkey. The Egyptians undoubtedly had an enormous impact on jewelry design in the ancient world, and the influence of their style and beauty still lives on to this day.
