| Jewelry is a fascinating fashion accessory that has | | | | the only distinction possible. The importance of |
| been popular from ancient times. It has played a | | | | jewelry to the status of women is apparent through |
| variety of roles including political, religious and | | | | certain historical events. When the Oppian law was |
| ornamental, and jewelry artifacts have helped | | | | passed in 195BC curbing the use of jewelry and |
| modern historians shape pictures of the daily lives of | | | | suggesting it be handed over for war materials, |
| ancient civilisations. | | | | women demonstrated against this in the streets. |
| Jewelry in ancient Rome is no exception. There are | | | | During the campaigns of Marcus Curellius, women |
| literary accounts and pictorial depiction such as in the | | | | chose to donate their jewelry to get enough gold to |
| Regina tombstone, plus an abundance of other | | | | send a huge gold vase as an offering to Delphi. Their |
| artifacts available that help us to understand the role | | | | behaviour was rewarded with speeches at funerals |
| jewelry played during this fascinating time. | | | | which had previously been only for men. |
| Jewelry was worn by men and women though it | | | | The type and amount of jewelry worn by women |
| was subject to conventions of the time; particularly | | | | varied, but the richest women were the most |
| with regards to the appearance of men. Male jewelry | | | | flamboyant in terms of amount and style. Amber |
| was typically practical in nature. Men usually wore a | | | | jewelry was only worn by lower class women and |
| single ring. The ring would serve a functional purpose. | | | | was thought vulgar by the wealthy who favoured |
| Typically a signet ring, the male jewelry item was | | | | gold jewelry. Other items used to make jewelry |
| used to seal official documentation. The male signet | | | | include pearls, coloured glass beads and polished |
| ring was initially iron but was later produced in gold as | | | | stones. These would be inset in gold and would vary |
| it displayed status and wealth more clearly. | | | | in size and style, depending upon status. It was |
| Other practical uses of the signet ring included the | | | | possible to tell a lot about a woman in ancient Rome |
| inlay being a type of key for a strong box. Literary | | | | by the jewelry she wore. |
| evidence suggests that propriety regarding male | | | | The types of jewelry worn include necklaces with |
| jewelry was ignored by a minority of fashion | | | | adornments such as pendants, amulets. Fibula which |
| fanatics, as with any other social group. Trends and | | | | are similar to safety pins were used as fasteners and |
| attitudes also changed from the time of Emperor | | | | so were often adorned to make them a piece of |
| Augustus. The emperors were established with | | | | jewelry that was both function and beautiful. Earrings |
| official state clothing during his reign which included | | | | were popular and came in both hoop and drop styles. |
| jewelry as a display of status and power. | | | | Rings were usually inset with stones or carvings. |
| Jewelry also had a protective function in ancient | | | | Particularly popular jewelry items were engraved |
| Rome. Boys wore an item of jewelry known as a | | | | gems which were referred to as intaglio. These were |
| bullah. This was worn from being a baby. It was | | | | gems such as carnelian, jasper and chalcedony that |
| worn around the neck and was a form of chain with | | | | had a sunken or engraved image, created with the |
| a pouch which contained an amulet. This was a | | | | use of wheels and drills. |
| jewelry item worn by most classes, but the rich | | | | Tomb jewelry findings suggest that bracelets were |
| upper class had bullahs made of gold. The amulet was | | | | usually worn in pairs with one on each arm. Some |
| often phallic in design, as boys were considered to be | | | | tombs have revealed up to 7 items of jewelry on |
| the stronger species and so needed protection. | | | | each arm which shows how the conventions for men |
| Another jewelry item worn by boys was a small gold | | | | and women differed. Even gold thread hairnets have |
| ring which was again carved with a phallus for good | | | | been discovered. |
| luck | | | | This article is under GNU FDL license and can be |
| With regards to women, jewelry was first and | | | | distributed without any previous authorization from |
| foremost a display of wealth and status. Women had | | | | the author. However the author's name and all the |
| no obvious status distinction through their dress like | | | | URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography |
| Roman men. Therefore, hairstyles and jewelry were | | | | must be kept. |