Ancient jewelry had various meanings and symbolism depending on the culture, time period, and region. Here are some general insights:
Status and Wealth: In many ancient societies, jewelry was a symbol of status and wealth. The more elaborate and intricate the jewelry, the higher the status of the wearer. Ancient rulers and royalty often wore jewelry that was made with rare and expensive materials such as gold, silver, and gemstones.
Religious and Spiritual Beliefs: Jewelry was also used to express religious and spiritual beliefs. In ancient Egypt, for example, jewelry was often worn to honor the gods and goddesses. The Eye of Horus, an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, was commonly used in jewelry.
Protection: Some ancient jewelry was believed to have protective properties. For instance, ancient Greeks believed that amulets and talismans could ward off evil spirits and protect the wearer from harm.
Love and Affection: Jewelry was also given as a symbol of love and affection. Ancient Romans often exchanged rings as a sign of their love, and ancient Egyptians gave jewelry as a sign of their devotion to one another.
Cultural Identity: Jewelry was often used to express cultural identity. For example, in ancient Mayan culture, jade jewelry was highly prized and was worn by both men and women to signify their social status and cultural identity.
Ancient Armenian jewelry
Ancient Armenian jewelry is known for its intricate designs and use of various materials, including gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones such as rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. Here are some key characteristics of ancient Armenian jewelry:
Symbolism: Ancient Armenian jewelry often had symbolic meaning. For instance, many pieces featured the symbol of the sun, which was believed to be a source of life and energy. Other symbols included crosses, stars, and animals such as eagles and lions.
Filigree: Armenian jewelry was known for its intricate filigree work. Filigree involves twisting and weaving thin wires of metal together to create delicate, lacy designs. This technique was used to create bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and other types of jewelry.
Influence of Religion: Armenian jewelry was often influenced by the country’s religious heritage. Many pieces featured crosses or other religious symbols, and some were used in religious ceremonies.
Regional Variations: Armenian jewelry varied in style and design depending on the region. For example, jewelry from the northern region of Lori was known for its use of silver, while jewelry from the southern region of Syunik featured more gold and precious stones.
The earrings are inspired by the Breastplate of the same name, which dates back to BC. IX-VIII centuries, found from Hayravank.
Overall, ancient Armenian jewelry was highly prized for its beauty and craftsmanship. Today, it is considered an important part of Armenian cultural heritage and is still produced by modern Armenian jewelers
“Urme” or “Arme”
n ancient times, on top of it being an aesthetic representation, jewelries were also a vector of energetic forces. And it is no coincidence that, as a result of different rituals and amulets purpose, they were crafted out of very different types of raw materials.
ORMĒ’s, ( or “Urme” or “Arme” ) foundational piece was inspired by a bronze bangle from the Urartian era, represented with snake-shaped heads, which can be found in the geological museum-gallery of Dilijan.
ORMĒ was created with the mission of awakening the rich and forgotten layers of ancient history from an authentic and forward-looking design lens. Indeed, through this travel in ancient times, one has the opportunity to make a leap in forgotten roots and feed one’s own identity values․