Jewels of Ancient Nubia.

Boston, 2014. Cm. 29×21, pp. 184, figg. a col. e in nero n. t., tela e sovrac.

Located at the intersection of trade routes from central Africa, the ancient Near East, and the Classical world, ancient Nubia ruled the entire Nile Valley at the height of its power in the eight century B.C. Its neighbor and frequent rival Egypt called it “the gold lands” because its territories held such an abundance of the precious metal, and because its inhabitants produced some of the most finely crafted jewelry of the ancient world. This book features over 100 adornments and personal accessories from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which houses the finest collection of Nubian jewelry outside Khartoum. Simple shell ormaments and necklaces of blue-glazed quarts beads, intricate gold filigree earrings and semiprecious gems delicately carved into amulets of the gods, elegant enameled bracelets and stunning gold collars, lavishly embellished mirrors and cosmetic vessels – all testify to the skill of their makers and the importance of these objects to those who wore or used them.