I'm Sharyl. My country is Greece.
Greece is such an ancient country that there were so many chances for inspiration, from Ancient Greece to the modern Greek Isles.
After studying each a bit, I selected the Hellenistic period (approximately 323 BCE-30 CE). *1
I had focused on this period in my graduate studies, but spent very little time on the art and jewelry of the period. So this was like a home coming, and adding a layer of knowledge onto something I had once studied intensely...many years ago. It was using something from a former life in this new creative one I now live.
On to my jewelry! One of the first things I was reminded of was that the jewelry and imagery of this period was strongly influenced by Egyptian art and mythology. *3 The necklace I created may at first appear more Egyptian than Greek, but I'll explain.
It was common during this time period for Greek jewelry to contain an image of the "Crown of Isis," especially in earrings. *4 I've included this symbol as the focal part of my necklace.
This pendant, the chain, headpins, and wire, are brass. Gold would likely have been more historically accurate.
The green beads have a pattern that is similar to a common Greek pattern:
1. BCE=Before the Common Era, often referred to as BC. CE=The Common Era, also referred to as AD. The dating of the Hellenistic Period can vary. It is stated in the Encyclopedia Britannica: "Hellenistic Age, in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bc to the conquest of Egypt byRome in 30 bc. For some purposes the period is extended for a further three and a half centuries, to the move by Constantine the Great of his capital to Constantinople (Byzantium) in ad 330." http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/260307/Hellenistic-Age
2. Map from "SeaWord." http://seaword.org/ancientwreck/hellenistic.html
3. Collector Antiquities. http://www.collector-antiquities.com/49/
4. Collector Antiquities.
5. Meander pavement in the streets of Rhodes. Wikipedia entry on "Meander (Art)", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)
6. Ganymede Jewelry, Hellenistic, 330–300 B.C., Greek. HEILBRUNN TIMELINE OF ART HISTORY , The Metropolitan Museum of Art. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/37.11.8-.17
After studying each a bit, I selected the Hellenistic period (approximately 323 BCE-30 CE). *1
Map is from "SeaWord" and shows Greece and surrounding area
during the Hellenistic period. *2
I had focused on this period in my graduate studies, but spent very little time on the art and jewelry of the period. So this was like a home coming, and adding a layer of knowledge onto something I had once studied intensely...many years ago. It was using something from a former life in this new creative one I now live.
On to my jewelry! One of the first things I was reminded of was that the jewelry and imagery of this period was strongly influenced by Egyptian art and mythology. *3 The necklace I created may at first appear more Egyptian than Greek, but I'll explain.
It was common during this time period for Greek jewelry to contain an image of the "Crown of Isis," especially in earrings. *4 I've included this symbol as the focal part of my necklace.
This pendant, the chain, headpins, and wire, are brass. Gold would likely have been more historically accurate.
The green beads have a pattern that is similar to a common Greek pattern:
Meander pavement in the streets of Rhodes
From Wikipedia entry on "Meander (Art)"
The beads I've used in my piece are not truly correct in that the pattern is not continuously connected from bead to bead, but lined up give some illusion of the meandering pattern. The beads had just arrived when I began this challenge and I decided to put them to use in this necklace. They are glass.
Finally, large semi-precious gemstones came into popularity during this period and were continued by the Romans. Here you will find genuine Carnelian gemstones and glass-cut green crystals (in place of genuine emeralds).
There are also a few small brass beads dangling from the chain.
It would be common to have entire necklaces of small gold dagger-like dangles on a necklace in this period.
The handmade clasp echoes the "meandering" key pattern found in the beads:
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to "Hellenistic Greece" as much as I did!
Now lets travel on to the rest of the world!
Or click here to return to the main page of the
With sincere thanks to Erin Prais-Hintz for hosting this event!
Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry
Click to find
for sale. [SOLD!]
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Notes:
2. Map from "SeaWord." http://seaword.org/ancientwreck/hellenistic.html
3. Collector Antiquities. http://www.collector-antiquities.com/49/
4. Collector Antiquities.
5. Meander pavement in the streets of Rhodes. Wikipedia entry on "Meander (Art)", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)
6. Ganymede Jewelry, Hellenistic, 330–300 B.C., Greek. HEILBRUNN TIMELINE OF ART HISTORY , The Metropolitan Museum of Art. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/37.11.8-.17
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28 comments:
Oh I can so see myself wearing that Isis necklace. Absolutely wonderful design and creation. Love how you explained the reasoning for each part.
Perfect timing for you to mention this, Marlene, I just put it up for sale if anyone is interested!
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/SharylsJewelry
I love how each and every component in your challenge pieces is there for a reason! So much thought, you are very inspiring!
I wrote a post too...although I am not participating, and there's a lot of Egypt in there!
Beautiful job Sharyl~ you really captured the feeling of ancient Greece in your piece.
Thank you, Kashmira, and I'm glad you mentioned your post. I'll come take a look!
Thank you for taking time to comment, Tammie! I appreciate that! Just finding the "Comment" link at the bottom is a bit of a chore! :-)
What a nice piece! I liked the look into Art History that you provided...since it is one of my fields of study!
Thanks for sharing the historical support for your design. Well researched and well done.
I adore your necklace. I love the colors and the Isis pendant. I also love the themes you wove throughout! Thank you for the mini lesson on Greece also. :)
Love it. Great job.
So informative! -The necklace turned out beautifully ;)
Really pretty piece! Love this style
What a wonderful necklace! I really appreciate how you broke it all down and gave us a history lesson.
Talk about historically accurate!! I am so impressed with your research and your finished piece! You are so inspiring! From the focal to the clasp - each element fits so perfectly with the theme of your design! Beautiful piece! Thank you for sharing!
This necklace has such an ancient and timeless appeal yet with a modern twist. I also loved that I learned something new! Thank you for joining me on this journey. Enjoy the day. Erin
Fantastic necklace Sharyl! I like the walk through the meaning and inspiration behind the different elements of it.
Great necklace and how wonderful that you told us about each part and the meaning behind it. This is the oddest thing: All day, I have been thinking how great it would be to have a "Time Travel Challenge", taking a time period and researching it and finding inspiration there. I got so excited when I read your post to see that someone actually did this!
Great story & lovely necklace! Thanks for the trip through ancient Greece!
Hi Sharyl,
Thank you for taking me on this ancient history trip to Greece I found it very interesting. I love the necklace you made to deplict this era of time it is gorgeous.
Therese
Beautiful Sharyl, what an amazing interpretation! I have been to Greece but only for a short time and did get to visit some very historical sites, but I'm so impressed with your work! Thanks so much for the information!
Thank you all so very much for your comments! Each one is truly appreciated! I really enjoyed the research and creating the necklace.
For me the hard part was to remind myself that I was not trying to do a museum-quality replica, but an "inspired" piece! A replica would be a delightful challenge some day though--but mighty expensive!
What fun this challenge has been! If I haven't made it to your blog yet, I'm still hopping! (late Sunday afternoon...)
I love that you chose to represent ancient Greece, something not as recognized as other eras. You put so much thought into every component of your beautiful necklace. Thanks so much for sharing!
I was lucky enough to spend several weeks traveling around Greece a number of years ago and visited a number of historical sites. You've captured the essence of ancient Greece - appreciated the guided tour through each of the key elements of the necklace.
What a fun and educational trip it has been. That pendant is quite the eye catcher, and I love all the details you brought to this piece
What a fun trip it has been. Without all your details I may not have understood Greece as the inspiration. Beautiful done.
What an attractive necklace you have designed, Sharyl, and with so much thought given to the components in historical context. They say our education stays with us, no matter how far we may move from our original field of study. You have just proven that!
I was aware that Ancient Greece influenced many subsequent cultures, and continues to teach important lessons to this day. I hadn't realized how influenced they were, in turn, by the Egyptian culture. Thanks for the (painless) history lesson, Sharyl!
What a gorgeous tribute to ancient Greece. Thank you for the lesson in Greek history, this has been an educational tour, and I see you have sold the necklace already, wow, great job, beautiful necklace.
What a neat hop! Love your interpretation and your post. Love that pendant!
You did a wonderful job of tying in the country's art and mythology into your design. Brass is the perfect supplement for gold; it is just as bright and beautiful! Beautiful design!
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