The spectacular gold diadem of Princess Meda, wife of Alexander the Great's father, Philip II. (336 BCE) Gold wreaths originally were reserved for the gods, but in the 4th century BC they also became fashionable for kings, queens, and the wealthy. Queen Meda was Philip II's sixth wife, a Thracian princess. As was the custom in Thrace she threw herself on his funeral pyre in order to follow him to the Kingdom of the Dead. Therefore, she was the only one of his seven wives to have been buried in his tomb. Spiral tendrils, little acanthus leaves, lacey palmettes, lilies, single and multiple daisies, bees, a tiny bird, blue glass paste and gold lace make up one of the most charming and valuable jewels to have been preserved from the ancient Greek world. Now in the collections of the Archaeological Museum of Aigai, Vergina.
Notice how all the ‘doo-dads’ are affixed with a tiny gold spring. When the wearer walked, the crown would become ‘alive’ with movement flashing brilliantly in sunlight. Must have made her look like a god.
Deplorablepoetry 2 points 9 hours ago
Notice how all the ‘doo-dads’ are affixed with a tiny gold spring. When the wearer walked, the crown would become ‘alive’ with movement flashing brilliantly in sunlight. Must have made her look like a god.