I'd like to think I know a little about jewelry, considering I just got engaged a few weeks ago. I know it runs the gamut from small, understated pieces to garish pieces. While shopping for a ring, I was able to see many different types of jewelry that the modern world has to offer, although I focused on diamond jewelry and specifically rings. I will first talk about the different ways the ancient Egyptians adorned themselves, then move on to the modern era and finally summarize with the differences and similarities I see. Although I started by talking about jewelry, the Egyptians had many ways of adorning themselves. got dressed. The Egyptians used jewelry, makeup and tattoos. We know this because the Egyptians documented many of their ways of life and also have relics (surviving mummies and tombs) that allow us to see how they actually looked. I'll talk about jewelry first. All Egyptians were looking for jewelry. “Jewelry was so important that not only the pharaohs but all Egyptians were buried with some kind of jewelry, even if it was just brass and glass.” (Hinckley) Just like today's society, the Egyptians had many different types of jewelry, rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Again, as in modern society, they were used to show the status and wealth of the person wearing them. The jewelry also had religious significance. For this reason, many models were subject to specific rules so that this did not affect the protective value of the object. Some jewelry was very ornate and some ideas have stood the test of time and are still used in jewelry. In addition to the design, the choice of materials and choice of colors had religious significance and significance. An ancient Egyptian designer had no freedom...... middle of paper ... meaning of lace on jewelry, the purpose of most jewelry is aesthetics. Wealth and power are also present, but people buy it to look good and not to ward off evil spirits. Makeup has also shifted squarely to the secular column rather than for medical and religious reasons. Today's tattoos are for "expression" and not to protect a pregnant woman during pregnancy. In summary, we see that in today's society we have abandoned much of the religious significance of jewelry and now use it to decorate and make us unique. . There is still a religious aspect to some things, crosses being the most well-known example and arguably not much changed since ancient Egypt, but the idea of ​​needing jewelry for the afterlife has disappeared. I think this reflects the fact that today's society is very secular and religion in general is in decline..