Crossroads of Gold

Since the Sumerians of Mesopotamia first worked gold for sacred and decorative objects 5,000 years ago, the ancient Middle East has been a center of gold work as well as the crossroads for trade to Asia, Africa, and Europe. Islam's widespread influence, beginning in seventh-century Arabia, can be seen in the decorative, rather than figurative, designs of a wide range of regional and national styles. The decoration of metal armor with intricate gold or silver inlay was known as "damascening," after the Syrian city of Damascus, where experts think the technique originated.

THE SUN ON EARTH: AFRICAN GOLD

In sub-Saharan West Africa the Akan people formed the powerful Asante state in the late 1600s, in what is today the nation of Ghana. By the mid-1700s, the Asante state had gained control over trade in gold, textiles and slaves. The southern coast of Ghana was called the Gold Coast by European traders who established the first fort in tropical Africa, called El Mina, "the mine." Portuguese traders sold slaves to Asante for work in the gold mines. All nuggets were surrendered by the finder to the king.

In Akan thought, gold is considered an earthly counterpart to the sun and the physical manifestation of life's vital force, or kra.