Humanity has long turned to gold to represent enduring love, whether in wedding rings, offerings of devotion, or expressions of status and fidelity.
Gold is considered valuable not only for its scarcity and beauty, but also for the symbolism it holds. In that sense, the symbolism of gold in love is linked to characteristics such as its purity and durability. Just as gold does not rust or degrade over time, true love is perceived as something incorruptible and eternal.
In Ancient Cultures
In ancient Egypt, gold was seen as divine. Pharaohs offered it as a token of love to their spouses and gods. Gold rings and necklaces were common gifts in marriages, symbolizing not only love and commitment, but also protection and power.
This is why the first gold engagement rings were used in Egypt around 2600 BC. It is believed that the famous gold ring with the eye of Horus was an amulet that guaranteed the blessing of the gods on the couple. In addition, royal brides were adorned with gold from head to toe as a reflection of their status and to attract fortune and stability in their marriage.
In ancient China, the exchange of gold was a common practice in marriage dowries, betrothal gifts, and inheritances. The bride and groom would give gold bars to the bride's family as part of the dowry, thus ensuring the economic stability of the marriage.
The Aztecs, for their part, considered gold to be a sacred metal linked to the sun. For this reason, they used it in ornaments, masks and jewelry, gifted at noble weddings. Possessing gold in an Aztec marriage was a sign of prosperity and connection with the gods, thus ensuring the well-being of the family.
In Europe and the Middle East
The Greeks and Romans used gold jewelry to seal love promises and marriages, believing that its durability represented the strength of human bonds. In ancient Rome, the custom of wearing two rings became popular: one of gold, to be worn in public as a symbol of the union, and another of iron, for domestic life. In addition, engagement rings were worn on the ring finger of the left hand due to the belief in the vena amoris , a vein that, according to the Romans, was directly connected to the heart.
In Arab culture, gold played a fundamental role in marriages through the mahr, a dowry that included gold jewelry, and which the groom gave to the bride as a sign of commitment and financial support.
During the Middle Ages and the European Renaissance, gold became an emblem of fidelity. Kings and nobles would give gold rings with engraved inscriptions, such as amor vincit omnia ("love conquers all"), or with heraldic emblems to seal the union between powerful families. Claddagh rings, originating in Ireland, also date from this time and feature a design of hands holding a crowned heart, representing friendship, love and loyalty.
The tradition of the gold engagement ring with diamonds, widely spread today, had its origins in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a gold ring with diamonds to Mary of Burgundy, marking the beginning of this practice in the European aristocracy.
An Indivisible Union
Love and gold have been intimately intertwined throughout human history. Their eternal link, in addition to being a cultural construct, reflects the innate human need to preserve meaning, beauty and economic security over time.
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