Egyptian Mummy Beads

New Kingdom

Upper Egypt ~ 1000 B. C.

The mummified remains of ancient Egyptians were adorned with jewelry and personal possessions to see them into the afterlife.  The Egyptians believed that a person's spirit would need food, money and possessions in the afterlife, just as the did in life.

The beads on this necklace were all made nearly 3000 years ago and were used in Egyptian burial ceremonies.  Small pieces of clay were wrapped around a thin piece of grass and then carved into beads.  The grass was then placed in fire so that it would burn away leaving only the beads.  The beads were then strung onto necklaces.  The original thread used in the necklaces has long since rotted away, but the beads survived and have been restrung to appear as they did at the time of the Pharaohs.

Last Modified 08/27/2007