The jewelry of ancient Egypt has fascinated the world for centuries. The beautiful designs in gleaming gold with brightly colored inlays have never gone out of style. Not only are they beautiful in themselves, but they also evoke the mystery and aura of ancient Egypt and its pharaohs, gods and goddesses.

Modern Egyptian artisans make stunning jewelry today, inspired by the artifacts from ancient tombs. In gold or silver, and in necklaces, rings and bracelets, the unique style and beauty of ancient Egyptian jewelry is available today, and can be personalized for each wearer in fascinating hieroglyphics.

The two most common forms of Egyptian jewelry are the Ankh, the ancient hieroglyphic symbol of Life, and the Cartouche, the symbol which enclosed the name of a pharaoh in ancient Egypt.

Ankh – the ancient Hieroglyph symbol for Life

The ankh symbol is one of the best known and beloved symbols in the world, classic and simple in its form. Pre-dating the cross and even most pagan symbols by thousands of years, the ankh has survived to this day as a powerful symbol of Life. Both the form itself and the timeless meaning have a wide appeal, and the ankh is often worn as an affirmation of life itself.

Cartouche – the symbol of divine royalty

The ancient Egyptians believed that their rulers, the Pharaohs, were descendants of the gods. While the name of anyone could be spelled out in hieroglyphs, only the names of royalty, or, in a few cases, gods themselves, would be encased in the cartouche symbol. The cartouche symbol, or shem, was originally round, and became elongated over several centuries, probably to accommodate the longer names of later pharaohs. The shape signifies a rope encircling the pharaoh’s name and then tied at one end. This symbolized the pharaoh’s divine rule over all that is contained in the cosmos.

Today, modern Egyptian artisans make beautiful cartouche and ankh jewelry, which can be personalized with the wearer’s name or other message in intriguing ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Egyptian art is known for its bright, rich colors as well as its stylized forms, and the jewelry is no exception. Finely crafted gold or silver jewelry with bright inlays of stone or richly colored enamel create a unique and remarkable look that is classic and timeless.