Pomegranate. Symbol of life.

by Nastya Ivlieva

Pomegranate with a thick firm rind concealing the treasure of juicy bright red seeds, is one of the most ancient fruits. It always was a symbols of abundance and unity of people, because of the seeds, located close to each other. The plant grows on dry lands and all types of soil, almost as if it were a kind of miracle and a gift of nature. This sweet and juicy fruit embodies a symbol of prosperity, wealth and fertility.

Pomegranate rapresented the sun to the Phoenicians, the ancient Greeks considered it a symbol of fertility, life and matrimony, the Babylonians believed that the use of pomegranate seeds before the battle made them invulnerable. In ancient Egypt, the fruit was endowed with healing properties and used in funeral ceremonies, since the fruit was revered by the Egyptians as sacred and capable of giving a new life.

The pomegranate is a symbol of the resurrection and the hope of eternal life. In Christian art the pomegranate is often held by the Child Jesus in depictions of the Madonna and Child. He held it as a gift to humanity, the gift of eternal life. In his hands, the fruit symbolizes at the same time the Savior’s blood, renewal, resurrection and unity of the believers.

Pomegranate is often called a royal fruit. They say that a shape of its sepals, is a prototype of one of the main attributes of a royal power — the crown. It is believed that the crown worn by Solomon was designed based on the “crown” of a pomegranate.

This juicy fruit is a symbol that is found in many cultures and of course could not but inspire jewelers to interpratete its form and shape. It was realized closed or open, with visible seeds or still hanging from the branches of the tree, designed as stylized motif, simple geometric shape or so genuine and realistic that it could not be distinguished from the real fruit.

Gold pomegranate earrings by Joanna Peters

Pomegranate pendant by Jewellery Theatre (designer & jeweller Nikita Travin) in yellow gold with 50 rubellites

Gold earrings with cabochon garnets, sapphires and diamonds by Anastasia Kucherenko

Ancient Greek gold fibula in the form of a flower with dangling pomegranate pendants, dated to the 7th century BCE.

A Gold, Gemset and Enamel Table Ornament by Fulco di Verdura

Bracelet by Sahar Saki, Iran

Dolce & Gabbana Pomegranate Fruit Earrings in Crystal and Gold Tone with Flower

Greek gold necklace with pendants,5th century B.C.

Gold pendant with rubies and yellow diamonds by Jewellery Theatre

Multi-Gem and Diamond Pomegranate Brooch by Verdura

Necklace of gold beads. One bead in the form of a pomegranate. Naxos. 1400-1100 BC.

Hemmerle Pomegranate brooch rubellites diamonds copper silver and gold

Gutta ring by Tatyana Kholodnova

Brooch by Luz Camino

Olivo Micheletto. Fruit Turquoise Necklace and Bracelet Together

Pomegranate pendant. Greek. Tomb III, Mycenes 1600bc

The Pomegranate Heart was designed by Dali in the 1950’s with rubies and diamonds.

Antique roman fibulae

Brooch by Nora Kovats

Tri color gold Buccellati pomegranate brooch.

These thirteen beads in the shape of pomegranates have been formed from thin gold foil shaped over a core which is still present. New Kingdom (c. 1550 – 1070 BC).L. 1.4 – 1.6 cm (13 beads)

Enamel brooch by Marilyn Druin

Benjamin Friedli

Gold filigree pomegranate necklace of Queen Tausret was excavated in the Valley of the Kings in 1908, and dates to Kemit’s 19th Dynasty, After the New Kingdom, c. 1200–1186 BCE.