The bees of Malia

One of the most renowned jewelry designs of all time, The Bees of Malia, an incredible artifact hosted by the Heraklion Μuseum, Crete.

The bees of Malia are considered to be of the most definitive archaeological findings of Jewelry from the Minoan civilization. These gold bees are depicted storing away a drop of honey in a comb. 

The finding is displayed at the 'Heraklion' Αrchaeological Μuseum in Crete. It dates back more than 3800 years. Excavated by the French from the Chrysolakkos necropolis in Mallia, Crete, first published in 1930 (P. Demargne, BCH54 (1930) pp.404-21 and pl.19).

Even with today's standards, the skill and craftsmanship evident on the Malia bees is phenomenal and unsurpassed, and still leaves even the most skilled jeweler breathless and bewildered with its granulated detail and extremely challenging structure. This item constitutes one of the most important and renowned specimens of Minoan art and ancient jewelry on a universal level.

'Arise' project - Greek Mythology photobook by Tristan Dark

When we first heard from Marco Brunetti a photographer from Italy it was in the form of a customer request towards our website greek jewelry shop. But his request from us was far from usual. He wanted to create a work of art in the form of a photographic art-book in full tribulation to the gods of Greece, their origin and their more than notorious mischief and mysterious intertwining relationships.
As he wanted to use costumes and jewelry in true ancient Greek form, it was not such a surprise that he approached our website for some props. I was so amused and quite flattered that he wanted to do something truly beautiful and flattered that the fruit of his 2-3 year project would contain our jewelry that I invited him over to Greece and showed him the best I could of the monuments. What was intriguing was his persistence and vitality in this project which is finaly released and called 'ARISE'. Everything about this book is very stylized and indeed quite imaginative and should I say.. incredibly sexy! After visiting the Temple of Poseidon together for his research and spending a couple of nights in Delphi and , we could only become friends.

Marco clearly dignifies his aesthetic preference to the subject of the female Goddesses, while the infinite drama unfolds, characterized by endless cliff-hanging and symbolic dilemmas that Greek Mythology is so renown for. In Greek Mythology, everthing happens for a reason, characters are born and killed wisely or seductively or with jealousy or hate only to reveal a new state of philosophical being. Most names of Greek gods, particularly the Primal gods and Titans are the core univeral concepts (names) like eg. the Sky, the Sea and Earth. Their relationships critical to the existence a philosophy of embodied concepts and ideals such as the first western one, the Greek one.

Likewise to everything following a rationale in the Greek mythology, 'ARISE' has it's own unique reason for having finally been realized after several years of hard work. It is perhaps the first time I have seen a large format luxury edition extended study of mythology with a predominant approach on the aesthetic principles of Greek mythology. All through the eyes of an Italian photographer.
While the myth unfolds, Marco's eye is on the characters as an observer of these always passionate and tragic personas, the youth, the passion, the envy, the disaster, the fertility and the enigma which always gives birth to something new.
I hope you enjoy the preview photos of this outstanding production.

Arise website
Arise facebook page

New product - Large faceted 'ionic' Greek-key motif earrings

Its not regularly that we promote or announce new products - namely because most of the 2000+ jewelry designs in the Greek Jewelry Shop range go back 3-4 generations in the Vaphiadis family history back to the early 1900's and the essence of our jewelry range is virtually timeless. In this sense there's nothing 'new' about this design that constitutes an exception - apart from the fact that it was added to our online store today following the request of a customer who browsed our entire catalogue and 'needed' these earrings for his wife for Christmas.. but this has been a great opportunity to say something about this sensational design.

I felt that the specific earrings - Timothy's 'find' in the full catalog section of our site - deserved not only to be added to our online store, but a special note. Upon reading his email we were actually baffled as to why we missed these earrings in our earlier selections and why we hadn't made these available in our earrings section far sooner!

These large glossy meander earrings have a distinctly feminine appeal in true Grecian style. Despite that their surface is curiously simple (ie, not covered with intricate detail like other Hellenistic rhythms), their incredibly simple and attractive silhouette embodies a pure feminine form in archetypical Greek rhythm - that one would most likely associate to being Ionic.

There is certainly a profoundly contemporary and modernistic feel derived from minimalist forms such as these, which revives the essence of classical Greek perception. A timelessness which is always current (much like in the case of an Ionic column) because of the 'wisdom' surrounding it's simplicity of form.

It is perhaps no coincidence that most professional and skilled designers today, whether in jewelry, architecture, fashion or even industrial design will most likely confess that it is a much greater challenge and more difficult to reduce a form to the essentials, than to add features - which often lead to clutter.

The fact that the Greek civilization achieved to reach the core essential, archetypical and fluid lines in their structures and art - is a reflection of the phenomenal advance which they also achieved in social sciences, politics, philosophy, fine art and theater. The principle of reduction (αφαίρεση = subtraction) alone leads to conclusions and a deeper understanding of nature and key motives which not only appeal to the senses but are building blocks in civilization.

Greek Jewelry Shop Product Link: Large faceted 'Ionic' Greek-Key motif earrings

Material: Sterling Silver

Length: Approx 4.6 cm in length (approx 1 3/4 inches)

GreekJewelryShop's jewelry collection visits Sydney on the 24th November with ancient Alexander treasures

We're happy to announce partnership with another one of the world's key museums. November 24th is the opening date for the first ever display on such large scale of Greek antiquities at the Australian Museum in Sydney lent from the permanent collection of the Hermitage. Apart from viewing one of the most significant collections of antiquities from the reign and era of Alexander the Great, visitors to this event from around the world will also be able to view and purchase a large collection of Ancient Greek Jewelry from our very own collection which will be the official merchandise at the Museum gift shop.
Over 400 significant ancient artifacts from the hermitage will be on show which are travelling in 3 different shipments from Russia for security purposes. The selection of our jewelry available for purchase at the gift shop consists of numerous Hellenistic jewelry and coinage jewelry in the form of rings, necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks and earrings.

Tickets and further information about the event are available from the dedicated Alexander in Sydney website