Gold

It is probable that the earliest recorded mark upon units of value was the image of a sheep or an ox; hence money in Latin is called pecunia, from pec us, cattle, the original form of barbaric wealth, for which gold was the substitute. The wealth of Abraham in silver and gold, as well as in cattle, is mentioned in Genesis. No coins of gold or silver have been found in Egypt or Nineveh, although beautiful specimens of the goldsmith’s art have been recovered from the tombs of both countries. The Hebrews, taught by the Egyptians, made their ark, mercy-seat, altar of incense, seven-branched candlestick, and other golden ornaments, even in the desert of Sinai. The seven-branched candlestick is represented in sculpture on the arch of Titus at Rome. At Babylon and Nineveh gold is said to have been lavishly applied in gilding sculpture, and even walls; but it is suggested that an alloy of copper, the aurichalcum of the Greeks, was the metal in reality used for this purpose. The heroes of the Greek epic had golden shields and helmets; breastplates and other large pieces of golden armour are among the recent discoveries at Mycenæ; at Kourioum in the island of Cyprus also great stores of golden ornaments of a very early age have been discovered. In Scythian tombs in Ru ia also, about Kertch, beautiful relics of Grecian work in gold have been found, showing that in the very earliest ages the skill and taste applied to this art were not le than those of later times. The gold jewellery of ancient India also excelled that of modern date, but none, before or since, ever equalled the great age of Greek art. Pausanias describes a statue of Athene, made by Pheidias, and kept in the Par the non at Athens, of ivory and gold— chryselephantine —delicately worked all over; and a still larger statue of Jupiter, of the same materials. Native gold alloyed with one-fifth silver was greatly prized by the Greek artists, who gave it the name of electrum. Examples of this electrum are rare; there is a vase at St. Petersburg. The Romans used to pay enormous prices for their household plate; for an example, the bowl of Pytheas, on which were represented Uly es and Diomed with the palladium, fetched 10,000 denarii, or about 330 l. per ounce. Few specimens of Roman art have escaped destruction. (Fig. 7.) Of the age of Byzantine splendour we are told that the Emperor Acadius, early in the 5th century, sat on a throne of ma ive gold, his chariot being also of gold, . In the 9th century the throne of Theophilus was overshadowed by a tree of gold, with birds in the branches, and at the foot two lions all gold. The lions roared and the birds piped in the branches. A remarkable wealth of ancient goldsmith’s work has been found in Ireland, consisting principally of personal ornaments. In the 9th and 10th centuries the Irish workmanship was unsurpa ed in Europe. It consisted principally of objects for religious use, and is characterized by a filagree of extraordinary richne , akin to the intricate traceries of the Irish illuminated work on MS. of the same date and derivation. In the 10th and 11th centuries there was a great revival of art throughout Europe. In Germany, the abbey of Hildesheim, under Bishop Bernward, became the centre of a school of goldsmiths, and some beautiful specimens of hammered gold, by the bishop’s hand, are preserved. IMG:6949005855195395773_fig_363.jpg: Fig. 363. Greek Ear-ring of gold, and part of a necklace. ( See also Fig. 276 . )