How to Make Ancient Egyptian Garland
To the ancient Egyptians, flowers and plants were sacred. According to Jane Howard in her article "The Flowers of Ancient Egypt and Today," they represented the bounty of the Nile and the breath of the gods. Some, such as water lilies that opened in the day and closed at night, represented death and rebirth. As a consequence, flowers and leaves woven into garlands were as common at funerals as they were at banquets for the living.
Papyrus string was the usual basis for ancient Egyptian garlands. Garden strings works well as a replacement, making it possible to create a replica of an ancient Egyptian garland.
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Instructions
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1
Decide on the length you want your garland. Add 4 inches at either end for tying the garland together. Cut at least three equal lengths of string.
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2
Choose a broad, flat leaf. Fold the top third of the leaf over and then fold it another third of the way down. Hook the folded leaf over one piece of string and stitch it in place. Fold the remaining third of the leaf over to hide the join.
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3
Insert a flower into the fold between the leaf and string. Stitch it in place with thread.
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4
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the whole string is complete
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5
Repeat the whole process again until you have completed at least three garland stings. To complete the garland, tie the ends of each string together.
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Tips & Warnings
Traditional Egyptian flowers and leaves used in garlands included include acacia leaf, palm, papyrus, lotus, willow leaves, larkspur, cornflowers, red poppies, chrysanthemums and water lilies. Select any available combination to make your garland.
To wear the garland, join both ends of the garland together and wear it draped over the chest and shoulders.
For room decorations, leave the garlands unjoined.
References
- "An Ancient Egyptian Herbal"; Lise Manniche
- Tour Egypt.net: The Flowers of Ancient Egypt and Today
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
