Meteorite Rings: Ancient Greek Elite's Fashion Statement
Rings forged from meteorites may have been fashionable among ancient Greek elite
New research suggests that rings forged from meteoritic iron were a fashionable accessory among the ancient Greek elite. The discovery sheds light on the sophisticated metalworking techniques of the time and the cultural significance of celestial materials in antiquity.
The presence of meteoritic iron in these rings indicates that the ancient Greeks possessed advanced knowledge of metallurgy and a deep appreciation for the extraordinary.
- andsoitis
> sheds light on how the ancient Minoan and Mycenaean elite
Mycenaeans are considered Greek.
Minoans generally not considered Greek.
Their script, Linear A, has never been deciphered, so we don’t actually know what language they spoke, but most linguists think it wasn’t Greek, based on how poorly Linear A’s signs map onto Greek phonetics when tested as they do successfully with Mycenaean Linear B.
Culturally the Minoans also look distinct from later Greek civilization. Different religious iconography (bull-leaping, goddess-centric imagery), different art style, no clear warrior-elite hierarchy the way Mycenaean and later Greek society had.
- stefan_lec
Something about this feels very Tolkien-ish.
Nobody mention it to Peter Thiel, he doesn’t need any more ideas.
- xbmcuser
In ancient times with no light pollution they could probably see and track meteorites falling. And it could have been easier to access to get those metals than mining.
- rithdmc
They're still fashionable! ... or maybe I'm a geek.
- tikhonj
If I get lucky in IPO land I'll have my eye on a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch with a meteorite dial, so I guess things have not changed all that much in the last 3500 years :P