This stunning necklace is considered one of the most expensive gold artifacts in the world! Known as the Starry Crescent Necklace, this is actually an ancient set of jewelry that archaeologists refer to as a Parthian-Sarmatian royal gold necklace and amulet.
The Persian necklace was made sometime between the 2nd century BC. and 2nd century AD for a Persian king or possibly queen.
For many years, the most expensive gold necklace passed from one ruler of the tribe to another. Sometimes it happened peacefully, sometimes by conquest. Throughout its life, the necklace could belong to both kings and queens.
The Persian necklace was worn on the chest to show the power, wealth and divinity of the wearer. It is widely known that in various civilizations, royalty wore large gold necklaces on purpose to indicate their high social status.
It is believed that the most expensive gold necklace was first created in Parthia, an ancient Persian empire that existed from 247 BC. to 224 AD but eventually passed into the possession of the Sarmatians, the legendary nomadic Indo-Iranian warriors who settled in the central parts of the Eurasian steppe.
It was they who eventually buried him, along with one of their tribal kings, in the so-called mound. It looked like a pyramid and was built over a single tomb filled with precious items for the afterlife. The Persian necklace remained buried with the king for centuries until it was discovered by Soviet archaeologists in the 1930s.
The World Gold Council is the leading market development organization for the entire gold mining industry and the global authority on gold. In 2017, for its 30th anniversary, the organization published an exclusive catalog with 30 of the best gold treasures that have been rediscovered over the past 30 years.
The “Starry Crescent Necklace” was chosen among these world-class gold artifacts and can be found on pages 48-49 of this elite edition.
As the most expensive gold set, this necklace and amulet represent the Star and Crescent, an ancient symbol of the Middle East and now a sacred symbol of Islam. This set is considered one of the most striking pre-Islamic representations of the heavenly symbol in the form of ancient gold jewelry.
The asymmetrical decorations at each end of the necklace show that it was probably kept in a crescent shape when not worn by its wearer. If you look closely at the jewelry, you will see that the ends of the necklace are not identical. While the birds mirror each other. Also, there is a large dotted circle on one end of the necklace (presumably the bottom end), but not on the other.
All of this indicates that the Persian necklace was meant to be viewed in a vertical position, reflecting how the crescent of the moon is seen at night. There are many historical accounts of jewels and other royal items that were deliberately displayed in a certain position to show power, wealth, and even a specific ritual message. The Starry Crescent Necklace is said to be one of them.