Jewelry and other body adornments were an important part of Byzantine culture that functioned in many ways., through displays of wealth and status, from protecting its wearer through spiritual or religious means, to serving functional purposes in day-to-day use.

Objects such as the Pair of Gold Bracelets with Grapevine Patterns are good examples when it comes to displays of high status, as their extravagant material and intricate design would have clearly highlighted the wearer's social standing. It was also believed that certain objects held close to the body possessed protective qualities for the wearer through a display of holy iconography and religious motifs. Other protective body adornments include Intaglio with Saint Theodore Teron Slaying the Many Headed Dragon, and Cross Pendant.

Jewelry was also worn in more casual contexts. The simplicity of the materials composing both the Cross Pendant and Glass Bracelet are less opulent, more accessible forms of body adornment. Jewelry could serve more functional purposes as well, such as the Balsamarium and Kohl Stick which were used for makeup application.

The jewelry in this gallery serves as a reminder that self-adornment in Byzantium held many more intricacies in functional and symbolic purposes, and looking at these objects from the perspective of a Byzantine person can allow us a glimpse into the lives of these contemporaries.

—Jericho Steele & Virginia Edwards