The Functions of Jewellery

Jewellery can be described as ornamentation of the figure that has been given meaning. These meanings can be characterized to form some of the functions of jewellery, in his essasy, On the nature of jewellery, Bruce Metcalf describes jewellery by its physical, social and psychological ability to touch people. Jewellery has many functions, some of these functions are; personal decoration, social status and spiritual mediation.

Assassins Creed Origins: Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, Queen of Egypt

These functions stem of each other. On Cleopatra one could see how these characterisations can be entertwined. As one of the wealthiest woman in Egpyt, she could afford elaborate jewellery simply to decorate herself with, but this was also a symbol of her position as Egyptian Queen and her identity as the embodiment of the Goddess Isis. If her position or life were compromised she could easily flee with the investment of jewellery on her and start safely anew.