Gold jewelry has a rich and complicated history. Bloodshed has occurred in many cultures, civilizations and countries over ownership and trade of gold and gold jewelry. In most modern cultures, a lineage the role of gold jewelry plays in societies can be traced back to ancient times. The earliest civilizations of Mesopotamia developed uses for gold in adorning Kings and Queens and lining royal tombs with gold and jewels for protection and status in the afterlife. In Pre-Columbian American civilizations, the Mayans, Incans and Aztecs developed sophisticated jewelry making techniques and believed gold was, like the sun, meant to be worshipped and reserved for high ranking individuals and ritualistic uses.
The Incas sometimes sacrificed gold-adorned victims to the Sun-God in ritualistic ceremonies. The Mayans were also known for their ritualistic human sacrifice by decapitation and cast gold bat shaped knife pendants were used to facilitate this ceremony. Examples of ancient gold jewelry is found, with the exception of Japan, to have had extraordinary value within societies. In Grecian times, gold jewelry was used to bribe the gods through extravagant offerings and placed at the feet of temple statues.
Christopher Columbus, on his quest for India, uttered 'Where is the gold?' as his first words on the shores of North America. Upon Cortez's invasion of South America, he captured massive amounts of gold from the Incas and plundered their stashes of beautiful gold jewelry. The West Africans feared gold, believing it to have supernatural powers and an evil and dangerous live spirit that would drive one insane or induce one to murder. North Africans considered gold to be effective in warding off the evil eye and created objects and jewelry for the local chiefs to use these gold treasures in ceremonial rites.
In 16th century India to modern times, gold has been considered to have magical properties and offer protection, to cleanse and to purify anything it touches, subsequently worn against the skin at all times. Gold has been used in Indian ceremonial wedding adornments. In the Bible, gold is referenced for its value and demonstrates the worth of man's relationship to God. The Bible also mentions a reward of a gold necklace being given to Joseph from the Pharoah as symbolic of authority. Rebekah is bedecked by Abraham with a gold nose ring and gold bracelets to embellish her beauty for her marriage to Isaac. In Ancient China during the Age of Division (Bronze Age), Emperor Hu the Tiger extravagantly decorated his female soldiers with sable furs and gold rings. In Sicily, gold is considered bad luck for brides to wear gold jewelry until the wedding ring is fitted to her finger on the wedding day.
Today, gold jewelry is mass-produced but the demand and zeal people have for it continues to mirror its covetousness of ancient times. Since new deposits of gold were discovered during the Italian Renaissance and goldsmiths were patronized by the wealthy, Italy has endured its position as a leader in gold jewelry manufacturing and industry.
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