Role of Gold in History

The evidence of numerous ancient cultures suggests that gold played an important role in determining the course of history. Part of the reason why gold is so influential lies in its unique nature. Because of its purity, rarity and resistance to corrosion, it was commonly thought to be the ultimate metal and as a consequence became associated with eternity, divinity, royalty and wealth. Different civilizations used gold in a variety of ways to enhance their own existence. With gold, they adorned temples, built idols of their gods and monuments to their rulers and made jewelry and other decorative pieces for themselves. Throughout antiquity, it was the metal of choice for use by the rich, the powerful and the religious.

Native gold was found in stream beds as nuggets and could be obtained very easily. Its yellow gleam was enough to attract someone to gather it, pierce it and wear it as beads. Even a person with no metalworking skills could have worn gold as jewelry. Free gold could be found in some areas, but the amount was limited so people had to pan for gold in rivers when there was no more free gold. Some authorities believe that the legend of the golden fleece originated from the way people obtained placer gold by washing sand over an animal's pelt with water. Later, placer gold became scarce, too, and people had to mine the gold, which was even more difficult to do. It soon became apparent that only the rich would be able to affo

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d the abundance of beautiful gold works, jewelry and ivory in their graves reflected this (Dawson, 176). The earliest princes of Mycenae were buried with masses of gold and elaborate ornaments. Most famous of all are the bronze daggers inlaid with hunting scenes in gold - some of the finest work by Aegean goldsmiths. The extent to which they incorporated the use of gold is extreme. "In one grave was the body of a queen with her jewelry and golden toilet vessels, and by her side was the body of her baby wrapped in thin plates of gold" (Dawson, 347). The Mycenaeans probably would have covered everything in gold (if they could afford it). Perhaps the most spectacular showcase of gold used in a single burial chamber was that of the Egyptian boy King Tut-Ankh-Amon. He was buried in a 2,500-pound solid gold coffin (Burns, 35) and surrounded by gold figurines and models of everything that he was to need for the afterworld. The rich and powerful also loved to decorate and flaunt their assets, be they power or money. Diodorus in 57 B.C. describes how the kings of Egypt devoted themselves to the adornment of the city, "so that there was no city under the sun so adorned with so many and stately monuments of gold, silver, and ivory .

Category: History - R