|Gold was considered to be the skin of the ancient Egyptian gods and their bones and were thought to be made of silver.|
At beginning of recorded history, silver may have been unknown to the ancient Egyptians. They could obtain gold and electrum, which was a natural alloy of silver and gold, from the mountains of the Eastern Desert and Nubia.
Early Egyptian language lacks a word for silver. They described it only as the "white metal", and when they did run across it, they seem to have regarded it as a variety of gold.
Silver diadem. The double uraei – two sacred cobras, protectors of the royal power in ancient Egyptian art.
Solid silver casket of Psusennes I. 21st Dynasty who ruled from Tanis between 1047 – 1001 BC.
|When silver was introduced into Egypt, it probably was more valuable than gold. It was rare, and on lists of valuables, items of silver were listed above those of gold during the Old Kingdom.|
Jewelry made of silver was almost always thinner than gold pieces, as indicated by the bracelets of the 4th Dynasty queen Hetephere I, in contrast to the extravagance of her gold jewelry.
Two gold bracelets of Queen Hetepheres I.
Silver mummy mask of Queen Malakaye (Egyptian Late Period)