Pendants have always been a very popular jewelry type. From the time of the ancients, many individuals have been attracted to wearing a charm for various reasons such as for love and fertility. Charms were commonly worn to attract wealth and prosperity into one’s life or home, as well as to draw down favorable conditions of fertility that aided in the production of a good harvest to feed everyone of the family or tribe.
Charms such as pendants were worn by sailors in order to keep them safe while out on the sea. Soldiers also wore charms to protect them from harm while on a crusade. Many of these charms were worn as pendants of a necklace made of precious metal chain or simply the use of twine.
From Ancient Jewelry to . . . Modern jewelry choices!
As early as 3000 BC, the highly-skilled goldsmiths of Egypt fashioned amulets and pendants. The jewelry of the ancient Egyptians were symbolically proportioned to their meet their standards of mystical and religious meanings. For instance, the serpent, scarab, falcon and lotus are all included in the various pendants they wore in one form or another.
The jewelry designs such as pendants of the ancient Greeks were reminiscent of miniature figurines, sculptures and masterpieces of art that displayed detailed figures of mythological figures, heroic scenes and scenes from daily life as well as figurines of humans and animals. Eventually Greek jewelry evolved into elaborately details of accomplished works of art.
Meanwhile, the Persian, Assyrian and Babylonian civilizations designed their pendants in the form of charms. Pendants are some of the most popular forms of jewelry types. For instance, the women of Greece adorned themselves occasionally by wearing necklaces that held an assortment of various pendants that ranged from flower to animal figurines that featured 14 karat gold filigree.
The ancient Romans integrated various designs of previous cultures while they enhanced their own cultural point of view. However, according to their extravagant sense of fashion, their taste in jewelry increased in size and became more exaggerated in design than that of their ancestors. They also included various colorful gemstones such as pearls, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
During the 8th century, the Italian Etruscans designed pendants that were hollowed out in their middles; these inner chambers were often filled with perfumes. Aside from being recognized for their elegantly high qualities of gold jewelry fashions in their day and time, the Italians enjoyed a wonderful array of jewelry types.
During the middle ages after the fall of the Roman Empire, their designs in jewelry evolved from illustrated scenes of epic panoramas and mythological figurine to ornamental pendants of holy relics and religious emblems such as the crucifix. Down through time and even today multitudes of individuals enjoy the fascination of wearing pendants, amulets and charms for one reason or another.
Why do people still include pendants, charms and amulets in their daily wear?
They do it because it tells the tale of their very existence in thoughts, dreams, deeds and wishes as well as other special meanings. Whether it is a cherished zodiac sign or birthstone pendant or an anniversary or bridal jewelry ensemble piece, the jewelry they wear has a meaning for them. By adorning themselves with various jewelry types they make a statement about themselves for themselves and others.
This is exactly what wearing jewelry is all about, expressing your sense of style and fashion as well as expressing your thoughts.
Although the personal tastes, fashions, styles and statements of jewelry have constantly evolved over time, we still hold an enduring affection for all those appealingly attractive and cherished ornaments to this day. The love for jewelry will never fade away. Pendants remind us of something that means something to us, something special. When you choose the best pendant for you, you are recognizing something that holds great meaning for you, something that warms your heart. Finding your special pendant is gratifying a tribute, complementing and expressing your existence.
© 2009 Sara Valor
