As long as there have been kings and queens in this
world, they have been adorning themselves in precious stones and metals in
order to display their wealth and power. Ruling families and governments have maintained
and passed down royal jewels for generations. Some of the earliest examples of
jewelry owned by monarchs have been found in the tombs of Ancient Egyptian
pharaohs. The Egyptian beliefs of carrying earthly goods into the afterlife
lead the kings and queens of Egypt to be entombed with their jewels of gold,
precious and semi-precious stones. It was their way to assure that their royal
glory was carried into the next life with them.
Gold was believed to be a divine metal and was connected
with the sun god, Ra, who was the god from whom the pharaohs were descended. It
was only fitting that the earthly children of a god be adored with the metals
of the gods and to carry it into the afterlife. Precious and semi-precious
stones were carved into the shape of the scarab, which was also a symbol of Ra.
The most precious of these scarabs would be common as grave goods of the
wealthy and powerful to garner favor with the gods.
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