Aegina Treasure

The Aegina Treasure is an important Minoan gold hoard found on the island of Aegina, Greece. The Minoan civilization was an Aegean Bronze Age civilization on the island of Crete and other Aegean islands, which flourished from about 2600 to 1100 BC. The treasure was discovered in a tomb on the island of Aegina in 1891. Unfortunately, the exact circumstances surrounding the discovery have never been determined.

The Aegina Treasure is composed of gold jewelry that has been dated to the Greek bronze age between 1850 and 1550 BC. It includes two pairs of earrings, three diadems, a pendant, a bracelet, a gold cup, four rings, plaques, and gold stripes. There are also five interconnecting golden rings plus beads and necklaces made of a variety of materials including gold, lapis lazuli, amethyst, quartz, cornelian, and green jasper. The most elaborate items are a pendant and a pair of earrings.

The pair of earrings is designed with the main body in a hoop with a double-headed snake. Inside are two animals, possibly greyhounds, over two monkeys. Around the circle are fourteen short chains, alternating ending in golden discs and figures of owls.

The pendant seems to represent a Cretan deity in a field of lotus flowers flanked by two geese in a field. The background is composed of two unidentified objects that are considered to be either connected to “cult horns,” the sacred horns of bulls, or potentially composite bows.

Aegina

Aegina, the island where this treasure hoard was found, is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece about 17 miles from Athens. During ancient times Aegina was a rival of Athens, the great sea power of the era.

During the Minoan period trade, between Crete and Aegean and Mediterranean settlements was wide-spread, and through their traders and artists, the Minoan cultural influence became dominant. The reason for the end of the Minoan period is unclear. Theories include Mycenaean invasions from mainland Greece or the volcanic eruption of Thera.

Hoards

A hoard is an archaeological term for a collection of valuable objects or artifacts, purposely buried in the ground, usually with the intention of later recovery. However, hoarders sometimes died or were unable to return to retrieve the hoard. These surviving hoards might then be discovered many years later. Hoards or caches are considered an indicator of the relative degree of unrest in ancient societies.

A Tour of Treasure Hoard Discoveries

Aegina Treasure

Title: Aegina Treasure or Aigina Treasure
Date: 1850 and 1550 BC
Period: Minoan
Findspot: Aegina, Greece
Materials: Gold, lapis lazuli, amethyst, quartz, cornelian, and green jasper
Museum: The British Museum

A Tour of the British Museum

Ancient Egypt and Sudan Collection

Middle East Collection

Ancient Greece and Rome Collection

Britain, Europe, and Prehistory Collection

Asian Collection

Africa, Oceania and the Americas Collection

The Prints and Drawings Collection

Information on The British Museum

Masterpieces of the British Museum

Reflections

The Minoan civilization was the first civilization in Europe. Is jewelry one of the marketers of culture?
Under what circumstances did the owners of this valuable jewelry bury it as part of a hidden hoard? What fear were they fleeing?
Are other magnificent hoards consisting of valuable historical objects or artifacts still buried in the ground?

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“Love should never be sacrificed for the sake of some dogma difference.”
– St. Nektarios of Aegina

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Photo Credit: 1) By Einsamer Schütze [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons