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It’s well known that humans have adored jewellery for thousands of years; however, have you stopped and considered what life was like for jewellers so long ago?
The largest cultural exhibition to visit Australia in more than 10 years arrives in Sydney in November, with the launch of ‘Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs’ at the Australian Museum.
It’s an interactive experience featuring more than 180 priceless artefacts and ornate golden treasures, including jewellery.
Head of exhibitions at the Australian Museum, Fran Dorey, said it would be a rewarding experience for those passionate about jewellery.
“One of the main attractions of the Ramses exhibition at the Australian Museum is the jewellery,” she told Jeweller.
“From the four-kilogram necklace of rolled gold to very delicate cartouche rings, some of these artefacts are more than 3,500 years old, and every piece of jewellery in this exhibition tells a fascinating story.”
She added: “Within the exhibition are some of the finest examples of Egyptian jewellery from any period. I am particularly interested in the stories attached to these female artefacts from 12th Dynasty princesses.”
The exhibition is dedicated to the life and times of King Ramses II, who ruled Egypt for nearly 67 years – the second-longest reign of any pharaoh.
All the objects showcased are sourced from museums and historical sites in Egypt and are on loan to the exhibition from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The connection between personal ‘story-telling’ and jewellery is well known; however, this phenomenon was taken to another level in Ancient Egyptian society.
It was believed that jewellery worn by royal women gifted them superhuman powers, allowing them to better support their kings as ‘guarantors of divine order’ on Earth. Because the king benefited from these supposed magical powers, his name was embedded in the designs and not that of the princess.
Dorey said that one piece in particular – the Collar of Psusennes I – was sure to amaze visitors.
“This solid gold collar, crafted more than 3,000 years ago, is made of seven rows of thin, disk-shaped gold beads. It is heavy, weighing 4.3 kilograms,” she said.
“Collars of this type were known as the shebyu or ‘gold of honour,’ traditionally given by a pharaoh to officials who had served with particular distinction. This collar closes at the back with a golden clasp decorated with the king’s cartouches, flanked on one side by a seated figure of Amun and on the other by a seated figure of the goddess Mut.
“The inscription is carved into the gold and inlaid with semi-precious gemstones.”
NSW Minister John Graham said that for those passionate about the mysteries of Ancient Egypt, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Egypt was one of the most powerful civilisations in the centre of the ancient world, and we are thrilled some of the greatest Egyptian treasures are coming to Sydney with Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs,” he said.
Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs opens on 18 November and runs until 19 May 2024.
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