| Jewelry (joias) is a fascinating fashion accessory | | | | Women had no obvious status distinction through |
| that has been popular from ancient times. It has | | | | their dress like Roman men. Therefore, hairstyles |
| played a variety of roles including political, religious | | | | and jewelry were the only distinction possible. The |
| and ornamental, and jewelry artifacts have helped | | | | importance of jewelry to the status of women is |
| modern historians shape pictures of the daily lives | | | | apparent through certain historical events. When |
| of ancient civilizations. Jewelry in ancient Rome is | | | | the Oppian law was passed in 195BC curbing the |
| no exception. There are literary accounts and | | | | use of jewelry and suggesting it be handed over |
| pictorial depiction such as in the Regina | | | | for war materials, women demonstrated against |
| tombstone, plus an abundance of other artifacts | | | | this in the streets. During the campaigns of |
| available that help us to understand the role | | | | Marcus Curellius, women chose to donate their |
| jewelry played during this fascinating time. Jewelry | | | | jewelry (joias) to get enough gold to send a huge |
| (joias) was worn by men and women though it | | | | gold vase as an offering to Delphi. Their behavior |
| was subject to conventions of the time; | | | | was rewarded with speeches at funerals which |
| particularly with regards to the appearance of | | | | had previously been only for men. The type and |
| men. Male jewelry was typically practical in nature. | | | | amount of jewelry worn by women varied, but |
| Men usually wore a single ring. The ring would | | | | the richest women were the most flamboyant in |
| serve a functional purpose. Typically a signet ring, | | | | terms of amount and style. Amber jewelry (joias) |
| the male jewelry item was used to seal official | | | | was only worn by lower class women and was |
| documentation. The male signet ring was initially | | | | thought vulgar by the wealthy who favored gold |
| iron but was later produced in gold as it displayed | | | | jewelry. Other items used to make jewelry |
| status and wealth more clearly. Other practical | | | | include pearls, colored glass beads and polished |
| uses of the signet ring included the inlay being a | | | | stones. These would be inset in gold and would |
| type of key for a strong box. Literary evidence | | | | vary in size and style, depending upon status. It |
| suggests that propriety regarding male jewelry | | | | was possible to tell a lot about a woman in ancient |
| (joias) was ignored by a minority of fashion | | | | Rome by the jewelry she wore. The types of |
| fanatics, as with any other social group. Trends | | | | jewelry worn include necklaces with adornments |
| and attitudes also changed from the time of | | | | such as pendants, amulets. Fibula which are similar |
| Emperor Augustus. The emperors were | | | | to safety pins were used as fasteners and so |
| established with official state clothing during his | | | | were often adorned to make them a piece of |
| reign which included jewelry as a display of status | | | | jewelry that was both function and beautiful. |
| and power. Jewelry also had a protective function | | | | Earrings were popular and came in both hoop and |
| in ancient Rome. Boys wore an item of jewelry | | | | drop styles. Rings were usually inset with stones |
| known as a bullah. This was worn from being a | | | | or carvings. Particularly popular jewelry (joias) |
| baby. It was worn around the neck and was a | | | | items were engraved gems which were referred |
| form of chain with a pouch which contained an | | | | to as intaglio. These were gems such as carnelian, |
| amulet. This was a jewelry item worn by most | | | | jasper and chalcedony that had a sunken or |
| classes, but the rich upper class had bullahs made | | | | engraved image, created with the use of wheels |
| of gold. The amulet was often phallic in design, as | | | | and drills. Tomb jewelry findings suggest that |
| boys were considered to be the stronger species | | | | bracelets were usually worn in pairs with one on |
| and so needed protection. Another jewelry (joias) | | | | each arm. Some tombs have revealed up to 7 |
| item worn by boys was a small gold ring which | | | | items of jewelry on each arm which shows how |
| was again carved with a phallus for good luck | | | | the conventions for men and women differed. |
| With regards to women, jewelry (joias) was first | | | | Even gold thread hairnets have been discovered. |
| and foremost a display of wealth and status. | | | | |