Published: 2019.04.03. Gold in antiquity

Gold in antiquity - Preview

The Incas called gold "Tears of the Sun". It was believed that this metal is a gift to people from the Sun God. Then gold jewelry wore purely aesthetic and religious significance, they had no financial strength.

About 1200 years BC, the ancient Egyptians sifted gold dust from sea sand with uncut sheepskin. It is this craft that most likely became the source of the legend of the Golden Fleece.

In ancient Egypt, gold was considered the skin / flesh of the Gods. In particular, the Sun God Ra. For this reason, the precious metal was available only to pharaohs, their family members, and clergymen. The cells in which the king’s sarcophagus was located were called the “house of gold”.

In ancient times, Nubia was considered the largest gold miner, as evidenced by data from the Turin papyrus. While the slaves suffered terrible suffering, extracting gold nuggets and sifting gold dust from ordinary dirt, Egyptian jewelers making jewelry for the nobility enjoyed a very high, almost sacred position in society.