Gold Diadems From The Royal Tombs of King Philip II at Vergina

A fresco painting of a hunt tops the facade of a tomb believed to belong to the ancient Greek King Philip II of Macedon

 
Three Macedonian tombs were discovered: the intact tomb of Philip II (II) with a hunting scene fresco painting. Intact is also the so-called Tomb of the Prince (III), which may belong to Alexander IV, grandson of Philip II and his son Alexander the Great and another ruined and plundered Macedonian tomb (IV) of the third BC century  known as the “Tomb of Persephone”, with the incomparable fresco of the abduction of Persephone by Hades and a ruined building named "Heroon", probably used for the worship of the dead royal members buried next door.

Some of the major finds were the two golden urns, containing the bones of Philip II and one of his wives, two oak and one myrtle golden wreaths worn by the royal dead. Also the rare gold-and-purple embroidered cloth, which wrapped the bones of the royal wife, along with her golden diadem of a unique art, two ivory symposium beds, weapons and armor of Philip II, valuable symposium utensils of the royal family and the silver urn of "Prince."

Golden funerary crown of Philip II of Macedon (382-336BC) father of Alexander the Great. Found in his tomb at Vergina

Golden myrtle wreath of Queen Meda found in the tomb of Philip II of Macedon

Another magnificent piece , a crown found in the Macedonian Tomb of Vergina, exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

A diadem from 4th century BC discovered in one of the Macedonian royal tombs in Vergina

Gilt silver diadem from the tomb of Philip II of Macedon, Vergina, c. 340–300 BCE.

Etruscan Gold Diadem - Detail

 Etruscan civilization, Gold diadem (crown). From Spina, Ferrara Province, Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Archaeological Museum)

Etruscan Gold Diadem

Etruscan civilization, Gold diadem (crown). From Spina, Ferrara Province, Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Archaeological Museum)

Etruscan Gold Diadem

The Etruscans are famous for their stunning craftsmanship which is reflected by this diadem of golden oak leaves and acorns.

National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia, gold jewelry

Treasures of the Sarmatians: Gold Diadem

Diadem, 2nd-1st Centuries B.C.

Treasures of the Sarmatians: Diadem

 Sarmatian Gold Diadem with Garnet, Glass, Almandine, Pearls, and Turquoise; From the Khokhlach Burial Mound  (1st century AD, Hermitage Museum).

Gold, garnet, glass, almandine, pearl, turquoise, 1st century C.E.
H. 15 cm.; L. 61 cm.

The diadem consists of three hinged parts, the whole surface inlaid with garnet and glass. In the center is an amethyst bust of a woman wearing a tunic and crowned with a gold wreath inlaid with almandine. The upper edge of the diadem is decorated with a figurative frieze representing a ritual scene of sacred animals processing towards the Tree of Life. The lower edge is decorated with pendants bearing rosettes rimmed with gold beads, pearls and small plaques.

This diadem is a typical example of the eclectic art which combed both Classical features and elements of Sarmatian art. It was intended for ritual use and was associated with the cult of fertility.

FROM THE KUBAN, LAND OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE

In the steppes north of the Black Sea. These finds testified to the existence of close connections between Olbia (in the storyline of Realms of Gold and the natives) as early as the sixth Century B.C.

Diadem in the shape of a broad band ornamented with flowers and rosettes alternating with figurines of birds. There is an amber inlay in the central rosette. The band has wire loops at the ends.

Gold. 66.8 cm. long, 7.2 cm. wide; Kelermes--Kuban .VII-VI c. B.C.

The first discoverers of gold were prehistoric, well before the civilizations of the Pharaohs of Egypt, and the Sumerians. But gold soon attracted the admiration of the rich and royal, and since then, kings and emperors, explorers, pirates, and thieves have been associated with this precious metal, perhaps more precious than ever at this very time in our history.

The legend of Jason and the Argonaut, and the search for the Golden Fleece is an example of reality evolving into myth. The Roman historian, Strabo(1st century B.C.) writes about these villages by the Kuban River in Ukraine, where gold collectors used sheepskins to trap the fine gold particles in the rivers and streams flowing from the Caucasus Mountains. The skins could then be dried and beaten to shake out the gold dust. This practice continued well into the 20th century. I think we can safely conclude that the Argonauts sailed to Colchis, a kingdom on the Black Sea, searching for gold. They most likely heard about this wondrous process from other seafarers and traders.

The Greeks and Etruscans traded with the Celtic tribes along the Rhone and its tributaries, and from archaeological remains we know they were very much influenced by Hellenic and Etruscan cultures. Homer's date is circa 800 B.C, contemporary with the Celts of Latisco, now Mont Lassois. I often envision these Celts sitting rapt around their fires, listening to the bards of the Hellenes, reciting their tales of Jason and the Argonauts as they built their ships, preparing to set out to find the Golden Fleece,