The Persians were crazy-fond of their gems and precious metals. And it was such a crazy-rich empire that they could indulge it. Both men and women adorned themselves in ways we might think over-the-top.
For instance. During feasts, the king often wore gems secured in his beard. In his beard! LOL. This tic
kled me so that I had to mention it on the first page . . . and bring it up again later when he did so on-page.
They would fasten gold roundels on their clothing, and jewels as well. And then, of course, there was the actual jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, armlets, belts . . . all could be found in gold and silver, often embedded with gems.
They could get very intricate in pattern and design; animal motifs seemed to be a favorite. Hence the lions-head torc that plays such a crucial role in my story. Griffins were also extremely popular, along with rams and horses.
There’s a wonderful exhibit at the British Museum, which I first viewed online and then watched a documentary about. =) Fun stuff for the history buff!
And of course, I have to again mention the Greek Jewelry Shop. When I was searching for images of the jewelry that plays such a vital role in my story, I came across the wonderful designs of Aris Vaphiadis, which are based on Greek museum pieces. (Greek and Persian jewelry were much the same at the time.) He has been awesome enough to let me use his designs in conjunction with Jewel of Persia, and so anyone who loves the look of this jewelry I heartily direct back to him. Check them out!!