Bracelets Through The Ages
by
Sophia K
30 Nov 2016
The earliest bracelets date back to around 2500 BC and were those worn by the Sumerians in southern Mesopotamia. Bracelets, necklaces, anklets, finger rings, and earrings made the women of Sumer into show windows of their husband's prosperity. Bracelets were found in the tombs of Ur, where it was customary to bury royalty with their jewelry and, unfortunately, their poor servants.
By about 2000 BC, in Ancient Egypt, bracelets emerged as significant pieces of jewelry. Bracelets were found in ruins from the Vesuvius eruption in Pompeii in 79 AD. It was during the age of the Egyptian Pharaohs that charm bracelets were first seen, although charms themselves dated back as far as the Neolithic era when men would gather unusual bits of wood or pieces of stone which would be carried about their person to ward off their enemies. So these charms were considered ëlucky charmsí and powerful protectors against evil.
It wasn't until the time of the Pharaohs, though, that these charms were incorporated into elaborate pieces of jewelry, such as wrist and neck. Bracelets which were not only deemed to offer protection but were also a sign of how prosperous the person had been in life and after death, would be an indicator to the Gods of this person's moral status in the afterlife.
In Grecian times bracelets were popular with men, and soldiers wore defensive bands of leather, often decorated with gold, silver, and or gemstones, on their forearms. They were known as ëBracels,í from the Latin Brachium, meaning ëarm.í When women discovered that these Bracelet would look great, they started wearing smaller versions, called little Bracelet...or ëBracel-etc.í
The history of bracelets stretches through the Middle Ages of medieval. Europe through the Baroque period of the 18th century and the present.
Historically, bracelets have been made from many materials, such as leather, iron, copper, beads, bone, and teeth, as well as precious metals and gemstones.
Bracelets have always been popular throughout the ages, and the styles have varied according to dress styles in cultures where people wore sleeveless such as the Romans and ancient Greeks. Wearing bracelets on the upper and lower arm became popular among men and women. The wearing of upper-arm bracelets is still popular today, with modern fashionable skimpy clothing lending itself well to wearing more jewelry.
Today, bracelets are worn by both men and women in various materials, such as traditional precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. Modern plastics and acrylics are now much used to make trendy, unusual bracelets, as well as metals like titanium and zirconium, which have become popular because they are hard-wearing, very light, and hypoallergenic. Whatever your tastes and budget, there is an enormous choice of bracelets and bangles to suit everyone.
By about 2000 BC, in Ancient Egypt, bracelets emerged as significant pieces of jewelry. Bracelets were found in ruins from the Vesuvius eruption in Pompeii in 79 AD. It was during the age of the Egyptian Pharaohs that charm bracelets were first seen, although charms themselves dated back as far as the Neolithic era when men would gather unusual bits of wood or pieces of stone which would be carried about their person to ward off their enemies. So these charms were considered ëlucky charmsí and powerful protectors against evil.
It wasn't until the time of the Pharaohs, though, that these charms were incorporated into elaborate pieces of jewelry, such as wrist and neck. Bracelets which were not only deemed to offer protection but were also a sign of how prosperous the person had been in life and after death, would be an indicator to the Gods of this person's moral status in the afterlife.
In Grecian times bracelets were popular with men, and soldiers wore defensive bands of leather, often decorated with gold, silver, and or gemstones, on their forearms. They were known as ëBracels,í from the Latin Brachium, meaning ëarm.í When women discovered that these Bracelet would look great, they started wearing smaller versions, called little Bracelet...or ëBracel-etc.í
The history of bracelets stretches through the Middle Ages of medieval. Europe through the Baroque period of the 18th century and the present.
Historically, bracelets have been made from many materials, such as leather, iron, copper, beads, bone, and teeth, as well as precious metals and gemstones.
Bracelets have always been popular throughout the ages, and the styles have varied according to dress styles in cultures where people wore sleeveless such as the Romans and ancient Greeks. Wearing bracelets on the upper and lower arm became popular among men and women. The wearing of upper-arm bracelets is still popular today, with modern fashionable skimpy clothing lending itself well to wearing more jewelry.
Today, bracelets are worn by both men and women in various materials, such as traditional precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. Modern plastics and acrylics are now much used to make trendy, unusual bracelets, as well as metals like titanium and zirconium, which have become popular because they are hard-wearing, very light, and hypoallergenic. Whatever your tastes and budget, there is an enormous choice of bracelets and bangles to suit everyone.
