History of Religious Jewelry

Jewelry is a board term that explains any ornamental adornment on the body. It contains the tiaras to toe rings and everything in between. Jewelry has been used in every culture all through history and in many different ways. While in our culture today jewelry serves largely an aesthetic objective, jewelry can serve other functions as well. Religious jewelry is used to represent official or social rank, material status, age, and tribal affinity. Further, jewelry serves as emblems of social, religious, and political affiliation. Actually, one of the first use of jewelry was to show religious affiliation. The followings are the main cultures that start the use of religious jewelry and religious charms and the general symbols and uses of their jewelry.

Religious jewelry and Roman Christianity

Architecture and art flourished when St. Constantine captured the Roman kingdom. At this time, different famous symbols were made that are still used in Christian jewelry and art. These symbols have the rosary, the cross, and the Christian fish religious charm. The cross is a symbol of love of God. Rosary beads are beads for prayer that start in the Roman Christian globe but are now used fully by the Catholic Church. Rosary beads are also famous in the Buddhist and Islamic faith .

Egyptian religious jewelry

Religious jewelry is very old Egypt was extremely symbolic. Some general symbols in very old Egyptian religious jewelry contain the lotus, scarab, falcon, serpent, and the eye. The scarab is a sign of good luck and rebirth while "Eye of Horus" represents healing. A general sign of the time known as "Ankh" is meant to represent never-ending life. Religious jewelry and faith necklace were extravagant, consisting of valuable stones were worn by women and men alike. When the Roman Era arrived, Egyptian holy jewelry was produced of affordable materials and more Christian signs were used. When Islam arrived in Egypt male were not allowed to use gold jewelry.

Native American jewelry and religious necklaces

Native USA religious jewelry was a sign of nature, playing a job in religious ceremonies, and represented rank. Natural stuff was used in their jewelry adding feathers along with minerals such as metal and turquoise same as silver. These natural materials were a prompt of the planet around them. During curative ceremonies and harvest rituals, the people would take care to wear specific types of religious jewelry that were the best color, made of the best materials, and representing the best symbol for that event.