This episode of MW’s Friday’s Five features five of the oldest treasures of gold ever found. They are magnificent items offering a glimpse into history.
You can watch on Video or read below!
1)The Etruscan Gold Book
The oldest book in the world is considered to be an Etruscan artifact which was found in Western Bulgaria during road construction in the mid 1900’s. It’s six pages of 24-carat gold, bound together by gold rings, is written in the Etruscan language. It dates back to around 600 BC.
The Etruscans lived in northern and central Italy but disappeared by the 4th century. Their language was lost with them, and so although a book by these ancient people has been found, what it says remains as mystery to us today.
2)The Varna Gold Hoard and Jewelry
In 1972, while digging a trench for electrical wires, men unintentionally discovered what is considered the oldest gold treasure known in the world today. It is nicknamed the Varna Gold after the site where it was unearthed. The Varna Necropolis, a gravesite in Varna, Bulgaria, is an ancient burial ground dating back to approx. 4500 BC (over 6500 years old!).
One of the most remarkable graves, Grave 43, included a male skeleton adorned with an abundance of gold artifacts. Gold beaded necklaces, gold earrings, gold pendants, gold bracelets, gold sheath for his penis, and other decorative gold relics, were worn by this presumably important member of the community. He is known to have sported some of the world’s oldest gold jewelry ever crafted. (more of the Varna Gold story here)
3)Lydian Golden Coins
Lydian coins are believed to have been the first coins of the world. They were made from Electrum which is a naturally occurring alloy of Gold and other metals. Lydia, now modern day Turkey, had significant sources of Electrum and the Kings of Lydia (Sadyattes and Alyattes) used this material to first mint coins around 630 BC.
4) Golden Treasures of Troy
The lost city of Troy, made famous by the poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer, was believed found by Heinrich Schliemann in the late 1800’s. Amongst this city ruins were found the golden treasures of King Priam.
In a silver vase were two gold diadems believed worn by Helen of Troy. Since the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, placed the Trojan War in the 13th century, and diadems were forerunners to royal crowns, could this be considered one of the first golden crowns? It is at least one of the most legendary.
5) King Tutankhamun’s Dagger
One of the golden treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1925 was a small dagger. Although the dagger was an exceptional discovery, it is often glanced over because of the many other spectacular relics found within his tomb.
The dagger had a decorated gold handle and gold sheath, but its blade was discovered to have been fashioned from a meteorite. This is one of the first daggers found of this nature. ‘Iron from the sky’ was considered very special by Egyptians for its protection. King Tutankhamun lived in the 14th century BC. It’s a treasure from out of this world.
So there you have some of the oldest relics of history, and made of gold! Oldest book, oldest coin, oldest crown, oldest jewelry, and oldest dagger (meteorite). 🙂
Best of luck with all that you seek! Treasure the Adventure!