The Byzantine Empire And Gold

By Jack Wagon

A large variety of customs and body decorative accessories of Byzantines people were relatively similar to those in the Rome at the same period (476-1453 CE). The capital of Constantinople had baths similar to those, which were present in Rome. These people wore numerous styles of jewellery in fingers, ears, neck, ankles, toes, and fibulae.

They mostly used gold or silver jewellery, as these were highly popular ornaments of Byzantines. They also used to cover other metals with a thin plate of gold. That indicates that gold was seen as a highly admired object in that empire, and they introduced several ways to gratify their voracious craving for gold.

With the passage of time, they started to use several other varieties of elements in their ornaments and costume conducts, and they used to bring those elements from the Middle East and the Orient. However, they never used intense cosmetics and make-ups ranges as the Romans did. However, they were keener in preparing wonderful perfumes, and they used several constituents in their preparation, which they used to bring from India, Persia, and China. For that cause, preparation of colognes soon became a preferred business in that area.

This populace also made some excellent types of jewellery, and they introduced several techniques in preparation of these ornaments. Enamelling of several ornaments was one amongst the most well liked techniques, and it was widely used for a huge range of jewellery. These people were tremendously fond of rings, and had immense talent in preparing a variety of rings, which were frequently made in a large variety of shapes and designs.

Jewellery was equally popular in men as well as women. Just as these days, wearing a lot of jewellery was taken as a sign of prosperity, and happiness. People having a lot of jewellery made of gold were seen to be wealthy and affluent, whereas less advantaged individuals used to wear gold plated or silver jewellery.

The Byzantines tried their best to transform different varieties of metals into gold, and a large portion of their population used to travel from one place to another in search of gold. They used to admire gold just like an object of worship.

Apart from jewellery, they also made some other objects from it that also included small idols and utensils. These idols and utensils were widely used in their shrines, as most of them have been found in the ruins of these shrines.

Jewellers are still using their way of gold plating after thousands of years. These people were also popular for their patterns, and they discovered quite inspiring ways to make use of those patterns for roughly each variety of clothing. They also prepared samite, an extraordinary form of silk, that they used to wear on their special occasions. - 29959

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