What does gold symbolize? The influence of gold and silver on humans. Golden color in the interior
Gold and religion have always been symbolically linked in numerous civilizations, from antiquity to the present day. From religious art to religious symbolism, gold is a unique metal that is central to many of the world's religions and has long been associated with the divine realm.
Gold in Christianity
Thus, during the festive season of Christmas, it is appropriate to reflect on the significance of gold in religion. In the Christian tradition, gold appears in the story of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem. According to the Bible, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a group of wise men (magi) arrived from the East to worship the newborn, bringing with them gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The gift of gold symbolized wealth and power, as well as, according to theologians, the kingdom of Christ on Earth.
Nativity scene in Bethlehem, with the wise men bringing gifts, including gold
Gold is actually mentioned frequently in the Bible, from the first book (Genesis) to the last (Revelation). For example, the Book of Genesis speaks of 4 rivers flowing from the Garden of Eden, one of which, Pishon, “ flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold"(Genesis 2:10-11). And in the Book of Revelation, in the description of the New Jerusalem, it is said: “ The city street is pure gold, like transparent glass"(Revelation 21:21).
Although gold is given significant value in the Bible and is often referred to as the most valuable substance on Earth and the greatest form of wealth, it is also juxtaposed with spiritual value to illustrate that spiritual value surpasses even the substantial material value of gold. For example, Psalm 119:127 says: “ And I love Your commandments more than gold, and pure gold».
It is therefore not surprising that gold plays an important role in the Christian religion. In Christianity, gold was widely used to decorate churches, cathedrals and chapels, to make crosses, chalices and altar utensils, and also - in the form of gold leaf - to gild statues, decorate manuscripts and depict halos and divine light on art objects of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Gold can also be found on the gilded domes of some Orthodox Christian churches in Eastern Europe.
The Unique Role of Gold in Religions
But what is it about gold that gives it its universal appeal to all the world's major religions and to ancient religious traditions such as ancient Egypt? And why does gold occupy the highest position in the hierarchy of metals?
The reasons are many and varied. With its unique yellow luster, gold symbolizes the color of the sun, and in religious art gold is associated with daylight and divine energy.
Cathedral of St. Peter's, Papal Altar, Vatican, Rome
Since it is relatively rare and indestructible and indestructible, the use of gold in religion expresses a preciousness and immortality not inherent in other metals. And because gold is very malleable and can take on different shapes and shapes, it is a natural material for artwork and decorative jewelry. This is why gold is found in decorations in places of worship such as churches and temples, and in religious artifacts and decoration of scriptures.
And as religions develop, change, and are influenced by previous religious traditions, the special status of gold in religious contexts has passed from one religion to another throughout history.
Reproduction of the Ark of the Covenant
It was believed that the biblical Ark of the Covenant, once kept in Jerusalem, was completely covered in gold. And in Judaism, the symbolic lamp, or menorah, is also often made of gold. Some Judaic scriptures also coincide with various Old Testament texts Christian Bible, so the references to gold in the Hebrew scriptures are to some extent the same as those in the Old Testament.
Gold in Islam
Since ancient times, gold has been closely associated with Islamic culture, where its role was determined by the need to follow Islamic teachings. Since usury is prohibited in Islam, a form of money that does not entail usurious interest arose in the form of gold dinars as well as silver dirhams. Gold dinars first appeared in Iran in the seventh century. According to Islamic law, the dinar must be made of 22 carat gold and weigh 4.25 g. Since the dinar is made of gold, its value is determined by its weight, and it acted as a stable medium of exchange rather than a paper promise, which, again, is in accordance with the precepts Koran.
Ancient gold dinar, Islamic money
According to Shariah, gold is also one of the six Ribawi commodities (along with silver, wheat, barley, salt and dates) that must be sold based on their weight and measure to ensure equal conditions for both parties in the transaction. Speculation in Ribawi goods is prohibited.
With the growth and multiplication of modern gold-based investment assets, there has been a need to update guidelines regarding what gold transactions are Sharia-compliant. This was achieved in December 2016, when the Organization for accounting The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has published the Shariah Standard for Gold, which clarifies the Shariah-compliant forms of gold that can be traded or used in gold-backed investment products.
Gold is also important in Islam as a decorative item and decoration. Although Islam generally prohibits men (but not women) from wearing gold, Islamic architecture sometimes makes generous use of gold, such as in the decoration of mosques, as in the case of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Gold in Hinduism
Gold plays a central role in the Hindu religion and culture, practiced throughout India. Some of the most important Hindu deities are associated with gold, such as Brahma, the Hindu Creator God, born from the cosmic golden egg of creation. Gold is also a symbol of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity and good fortune.
Thus, gold is considered auspicious in Hinduism, which also explains why it is given as a gift for weddings and other occasions. special occasions, and also on festivals such as Dhanteras. For the same reason, gold is given as a gift in Hindu ceremonies, and devotees regularly donate gold to Indian temples.
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, India
The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala houses what is believed to be the largest gold treasure in the world. The existence of the treasure was confirmed in 2011, when some of the temple's underground vaults were opened by order of the Supreme Court of India. The treasures of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, including gold ornaments, gold statues, vast quantities of gold coins and even a golden throne, have accumulated over millennia from donations to the temple, including from former Indian dynasties and kings.
Some temples in India are even covered with gold, as in the case of the Sripuram golden temple in Tamil Nadu, covered with 1,500 kg of pure gold, and the Sri Harmandir Sahib golden temple in Punjab - an important pilgrimage site for Sikhs - whose sanctum is covered with gold leaf.
Gold in Buddhism
Gold also plays a central role and is revered in Buddhism. The color gold in Buddhism is associated with the golden rays of the sun and enlightenment.
Temple of the Golden Buddha: Wat Traimit, Bangkok
In Buddhist culture, there are many Buddha statues made of pure gold, the largest of which is the Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit in Bangkok, Thailand, weighing 5.5 tons and 2 m high. In Tibetan regions, Buddhist statues are also usually plated with gold. In 2013, the former king of Thailand even donated almost 300 kg to decorate the spire of the Mahabodhi Buddhist Temple in Bodh Gaya, India. The famous Zen Buddhist temple, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, is also decorated with gold, covered in pure gold leaf.
Giving Gold During the Holiday Season
Due to its rarity and value, gold has always been and will always be an impressive gift that will be treasured and remembered. Because of its close connection with Christmas and the Christian tradition, as well as its deep connection with all other major religions of the world, a gold gift is also imbued with a meaning that transcends the material value of the actual gold it contains. Therefore, it will be interesting to learn about the selection of gold bars and coins that are ideal for a gift that will impress the recipient for a long time.
For customers who prefer to gift tola denominated gold bars, a 5 tola gold bar from PAMP– available option in weight range from 50 g to 100 g.
Divisible gold products, also known as combi gold or multi gold, are ideal as gold gifts as they consist of multiple split gold bars that can be given individually. 10 gram MultiDisc gold bar from a prestigious gold refiner Heraeus, based in Hanau, Germany, is a tamper-proof disc-shaped package containing 10 individual stamped 1-gram gold bars. The disc design allows individual 1 gram gold bars to be removed, so this is an ideal product for those who wish to gift small gold bars to multiple recipients.
Likewise the 50g gold CombiBar from a renowned Swiss refiner Valcambi divided into 50 1 gram gold bars. The Gold CombiBar is a rectangle of 10 x 5 1-gram gold bars the size and thickness of a credit card that fits in a wallet. The 1 gram bars are combined into a larger gold bar using grooves and can be separated and used as a gift.
Each 1 gram gold bar segment is also embossed with a logo. Valcambi and its weight and fineness, so that once detached, each segment still carries the guarantee of authenticity from Valcambi.
Among the most valuable gold coins is the Canadian gold coin. Maple Leaf" (Maple Leaf), produced by the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, Canada. Available in 4 sizes - 1 oz, 0.5 oz, 0.25 oz and 0.1 oz - the Gold Maple Leaf offers attractive gift options for beautiful and meaningful gifts at varying price points.
Another timeless gift in the gold coin category is the 1 oz Austrian Philharmonic gold coin, produced by the prestigious Austrian Mint, one of the oldest in Europe. This 1 oz gold coin, which is non-negotiable legal tender in the Eurozone, is dedicated to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, renowned throughout the world for its New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve concerts in Vienna, Austria.
Gold as an archetype of perfectionThe color gold is used in painting as an expression of divine revelation. The golden radiance embodies the eternal divine light.
In illustrations of biblical scenes, in the painting of walls and domes of Byzantine churches, the yellow-gold background embodies the horizon of eternity, eternal light, against which all depicted events acquire the meaning of holiness.
Evgeniy Miller
Gold, which in itself is a precious material value, carries within itself the effect of “soft hypnotism.” Many people perceive the golden color as starlight descending from heaven.
In its constancy and immutability, gold, which does not oxidize in air and does not combine with anything in alloys, has become a symbol of eternity and immortality. In the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, for example, in the tomb of Ramses III, the walls depict a winged sun of golden color against a background of dark blue night; this background symbolizes the darkness of space, and the whole picture represents the movement of the pharaoh who has passed into another world towards the eternal light, where he himself will be reborn in immortality. 
The winged sun itself was considered by the ancient Egyptians to be an attribute of the god Horus, born from Isis and the dead Osiris, in order to resist the destructive power of Set again and again, avenging his murdered father. Horus (literally “height”, “sky”) was depicted as a man with the head of a falcon as a symbol of the winged sun. 
According to myth, Isis conceived him from the already dead Osiris, who was treacherously killed by his brother Set. In the battle with Seth, Horus is first defeated, Seth tears out his eye, a wonderful eye. However, then, in a long struggle, Horus defeats Set, deprives him of his manhood, returns his wonderful eye, with the help of which he finds pieces of the severed body of Osiris scattered throughout the world and brings him back to life. 
And finally, gold is a metaphor for the time of fulfillment and the end. Since the time of Virgil, there has been a political utopia about a “golden age.”
The attributes of kings and queens were golden crowns and orb-orbs, symbolizing such a time of fulfillment with their roundness and integrity.
The symbolism of the perfection of the golden color is manifested even more strongly in the prediction of the heavenly Jerusalem built from “pure gold”: “... the city was pure gold... the streets of the city were pure gold...” (Revelation of John the Theologian 21, 18; 21).
Symbolism of jewelry
Butterfly– lightness and grace, a symbol of paradise. Another meaning is playmaker, frivolity, carelessness. 
Ladybug- a symbol of good luck and success.
Pigeon- love, meekness, tenderness.
Dolphin- a symbol of love, diligence, loyalty, sharpness of thinking. 
The Dragon– a symbol of fertility (in China), strength. It was believed that the image of a dragon would give a person true invulnerability, that is, immortality.
Hare rabbit)– a symbol of longevity, an expert in healing potions. The hare helps children receive the protection of the Moon, which means they can have a happy life in the future.
Snake- a symbol of wisdom, immortality, renewal, temptation. A dual symbol among all peoples: on the one hand, the snake is a symbol of the underworld, the kingdom of the dead, one of the guises of the Devil, cunning and dangerous, on the other hand, the snake is treated with respect primarily because of its ability to change skin (a symbol of renewed life ). In the East the Snake is a symbol female beauty, a symbol of mysterious powers, telepathy, clairvoyance. 
Cat- revered as a sacred animal among many peoples, a symbol of eternity, independence and grace, the queen of love. It is believed that it protects against the evil eye. This symbol is worn on the shoulder.
Martin– personifies speed in achieving goals.
Swan– symbolizes tenderness, constancy and fidelity in love. 
Horse- a symbol of life, optimism, diversity of feelings and perpetual motion. In the East, the Horse is considered a friend of man and a protector from evil spirits.
It is also considered a manifestation of the spiritual principle and patronizes gifted people - artists, poets, musicians. The horse helps to reach the heights of spirit and immortality. The horse represents quickness of thought, brightness of imagination, talent and creativity.
Frog- a symbol of the patroness of women’s household chores and especially weaving. It restores health and is believed to cure heart disease. This symbol is recommended to be worn on the left shoulder (above the heart).
Chafer- symbol of a merchant. It represents luck and success in trading matters. 
Fly– symbolizes the strength of business ties.
Mouse- in the East, a symbol of wealth and its accumulation. In the West, the mouse has transformed from a symbol of theft and the devil over the last century into a symbol of nimbleness, intelligence and resourcefulness.
Spider- a successful catcher with power. 
Panther– the embodiment of predatory femininity, flexibility, grace. It personifies greatness, it is a symbol of power, fearlessness, courage, power and nobility. The aggressive panther is ready to defend and attack; it is believed that it helps against the evil eye. This symbol is worn on the shoulder, with the head facing towards you. A bracelet with walking panthers is worn with the feet down to protect oneself from unforeseen circumstances.
Bee- a symbol of hard work, fertility; among the ancient Slavs, the bee was a symbol of love.
Rose- a symbol of spring, beauty, love, tenderness; a rosebud is a symbol of virginity. And also a symbol of power and pride. 
Fish- early Christians wore fish made of metal, stone, mother-of-pearl or glass around their necks, just as they wear crosses on their necks now. Symbol of silence, fertility, “maternal origin.” In Ancient China, fish was a symbol of happiness and abundance, in Japan - a symbol and embodiment of courage, strength and endurance.
Scarab- a symbol of rebirth, fertility, strength and courage (in Ancient Egypt). Scarabs made of blue stone as a symbol of masculinity adorned the rings of ancient Egyptian warriors.
Dog- a symbol of courage, bravery, selflessness and justice. The dog has always been a faithful friend, helper and protector of man. And besides, dogs have hypersensitive perception. 
Owl- a symbol of wisdom, intuition and clairvoyance.
Scorpion- a symbol of wisdom and nobility. In the Middle Ages, it was often used as a talisman and amulet; Paracelsus advised patients suffering from diseases of the reproductive system to wear it.
Elephant- a symbol of strength and power, happiness and wealth. The personification of memory, wisdom, longevity, fidelity, compassion. Jewelers have been using images of elephants in their jewelry since ancient times. These products carry the strongest and most positive energy for humans. Such jewelry is suitable for people seeking stability, confidence and sustainability in life. 
A flower is a symbol of beauty, a symbol of birth.
The white water lily flower is a symbol of purity and virginity.
The cornflower flower is a symbol of trust.
The carnation flower is a symbol of love, engagement and marriage.
The clover flower (shamrock) is a symbol of the Trinity. Four-leaf clover brings good luck in all matters.
The lily of the valley flower is a symbol of tenderness and purity.
The lily flower is a symbol of good news. In contrast, a rose means masculinity. 
The lotus flower is a symbol of life and happiness, in China it is a symbol of purity.
Poppy flower - symbolizes memories, silence, sleep. In Ukraine - a symbol of fertility, health, beauty.
Forget-me-not flower - symbolizes memory and fidelity.
Orchid flower – femininity.
Peony flower - love, wealth, luck.
First, let's establish what makes this metal so expensive: 1) Durability.
Due to its chemical properties, gold does not darken in air. Therefore, gold coins and products that have lain for centuries in the ground or under water often look as if they were made just yesterday. 2) Rarity
. Pure gold is not found often, so its price always remains high 3) Beauty and plasticity
b. Thanks to these qualities, gold is an ideal metal for jewelry. For example, a piece of gold the size of a match head can be stretched into a wire more than three kilometers long. Now the price of the precious metal is growing rapidly. That is why the World Gold Council conducted a study and published a list of countries and international organizations with the largest gold reserves. 1. USA
The USA is the leader in terms of gold reserves. The country's vaults contain 8,133 tons of precious metal. 78.9% of the US foreign exchange reserve is in gold. 2. Germany Next, with a large gap from the United States, comes Germany. The Germans store 71.5% of their foreign exchange reserves in gold, which is 3,412 tons. 3. IMF The IMF's gold reserves are 3,217 tons, which it uses to stabilize the international market. For example, the fund recently decided to sell some of its gold to provide credit to crisis-hit countries. 4. France
More than half of France's foreign exchange reserve is stored in gold - 72.6%. This amounts to 2,487 tons of precious metal. 5. Italy According to the World Gold Council, the Bank of Italy holds 2,702.6 tons of gold. This is approximately 66.5% of the country's foreign exchange reserve. 6. China China is the largest gold producer in the world: since 2003, it has increased its reserves of this precious metal by 76% - to 1,054 tons. The world's sixth largest gold reserve is valued at $2.13 trillion. 7. Switzerland Prudent Switzerland stores 41.1% of its foreign exchange reserves in gold. This amounts to 1,041 tons. 8. Japan Only 2.2% of the country's foreign exchange reserve is in gold. Today, the Bank of Japan stores 765.2 tons of precious metal. 9. Netherlands Unlike Japan, 61.7% of the Netherlands' foreign exchange reserve is held in gold. This amounts to 612.5 tons of precious metal. 10. European Central Bank 
The top ten is closed by the European Central Bank, which has 666.5 tons of gold in its storage. 
But, as you know, greed is the root of all evil. Let's strive for spiritual wealth, which cannot be measured in gold bars and crisp bills :) 
GOLD is a noble metal symbolizing the highest level of power and wealth.
Since ancient times it has been used as a universal monetary equivalent. In esotericism, a sign of the highest levels of wisdom and knowledge. The sun symbol is associated with sunlight energy, fire. In medieval iconography it acted as an allegory of heavenly light. The gold-making art of the Incas was entirely subordinated to the sun. Personified, as a rule, by a male deity. According to the ancient Egyptians, gold is evidence of the presence of the divine principle in the created world. Gold, according to Chinese Taoists, is the quintessence of heaven. In Christianity, a symbol of love and fidelity. The wise men who came for the star of Bethlehem presented the baby Jesus with incense, myrrh and gold.
The acquisition of gold is the goal of alchemical transmutation. It was an allegorical sign of an enlightened soul, expressing the latter’s ability to shine with divine light. Alchemical transmutation passes to gold through the stages of black - sin and repentance, white - forgiveness and innocence and red - purification and passion. The motive of acquiring treasures, understood in the sense of spiritual enrichment, is associated with gold. It expresses the principle of sacredness as such, therefore gold is the royal metal. According to Indian tradition, gold is interpreted as light materialized in stone. Linguistically, R. Guenon, a specialist in the field of symbolism, proved the relationship between the concepts of gold and light. Gold is also a symbol of the heart. If the heart is the main organ in human nature, then gold is the heart of the earth. The mythology about gold hidden in a cave and guarded by a dragon became an allegory of wisdom. The golden sword was a symbol of courage and valor in ancient mythology. The image of the golden fleece, found by Jason on the tree of life, is interpreted as a sign of immortality. The symbolism of making gold according to alchemical treatises is also associated with the dream of immortality.
An old English superstition about a rainbow says that when you get to where it hits the ground, you will find a buried bag of gold. Everywhere, the bride and groom who get married exchange gold rings, which introduces an element of solar sacralization into the sacrament. On the other hand, in Russia to this day there remains an archaic ban on giving birth and operating while wearing gold jewelry.
The negative connotation in the interpretation of gold associates it with idolatry and money-grubbing. It is no coincidence that the golden calf is an ambivalent symbol of both paganism and greed. Gold is also a sign of vanity, which is why the Orthodox tradition condemns the wearing of gold crosses by the laity.
In the Russian Orthodox Church there is no special canon that regulates what color domes on churches should be, so in the modern world they often rely on material resources, and if they are few, then the dome of the church can be made from wooden aspen tiles or from painted iron in green or blue.
“There is no sin in this,” says priest from Yekaterinburg Maxim Menyailo (Church on the Blood), “God created all these materials so that man himself could decide how to use them.”
However, to this day, gilding of church domes remains the ideal of church construction, since gold in the human mind is a symbol of incorruptibility, a symbol of God’s eternal Existence.
The custom came “from the Romans”
The custom of covering domes with gold came to Rus' from Byzantium, and of course, the largest Orthodox church in Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia, made a huge impression on the first Russian Christians. The construction of Hagia Sophia took three annual incomes of the empire; Emperor Justinian believed that with this he surpassed King Solomon, who built the Temple in Jerusalem, and wanted to cover not only the domes of Sophia with gold, but also the walls from the dome to the foundation.
He was warned against this by the Constantinople wise men, who predicted that at “the end of times the poorest kings will come to the city and raze the golden Sophia to the ground,” so there is no need to do this.
Bishop Anthony of Novgorod, who visited Byzantium in the 13th century, described the interior of the cathedral with admiration. He wrote about the golden iconostasis, about the silver pulpit and the “altar pillar”, mentioned a huge golden cross with pearls and precious stones two human heights “behind the holy throne” and about the golden lamps “made” by Justinian.
Gold and poverty, life and death stood side by side
After Russia adopted Orthodoxy, the question arose about the construction of Orthodox churches - there were no builders or architects, so the renewed Rus' was forced to invite “Roman” craftsmen, who brought with them the tradition of gilding domes.
No other Christian denomination has such a tradition established. One of the first churches in Rus' to have a golden dome was the 12th century temple on the Nerl in honor of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, the dome of which was gilded by order of St. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky
Of course, behind the sacred meaning of covering the dome with the thinnest layer of gilding, there was also a practical meaning - in those days they did not know how to anodize roofing iron, and a gilded dome could stand for 100 years without repair - gold reliably protected the iron from corrosion and protected the holy of holies - the altar - from rain.
The work of a goldsmith was very harmful, since the domes in the Middle Ages were covered with a mixture of gold and mercury, and then the metal was heated so that the mercury vapor evaporated, and then they repeated this again - therefore good craftsmen didn't live long. It is known that during the gilding of the domes of St. Petersburg Isaac in the 19th century, 60 gilders died from poisoning, and in total a hundredweight of gold was spent on the domes.
Symbolism of gilding
The tradition of gilding domes still amazes the minds of Europeans, who consider it a useless extravagance.
But it was not without reason that the Magi, who brought gifts to the Divine Child, in addition to myrrh and incense, presented him with gold - a metal that never changes. This metal in the soul of an Orthodox person is inextricably linked not with wealth, but with God, with eternal life, with heavenly glory. It is a sign of immortality, greatness and faith burning in the souls of Russian people.
Priest Andrei Chizhenko points out that the onion-shaped golden domes symbolize a burning candle and are a prayer Orthodox people to God. This architectural technique reveals the filial love of creatures for the Creator and is a sacrifice to the Lord.
Over time, Russian Orthodoxy developed a tradition of gilding the domes of churches dedicated to Christ.
If the temple has domes of blue color with stars, then the temple is most likely dedicated to the Mother of God, and the stars and the heavenly color of the domes are reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Savior.
Green and silver domes indicate that the temple was erected in honor of the Holy Trinity or some saint, and black domes indicate that in front of you is a monastery building.
However, all this is nothing more than tradition. For example, the temple in the name of the Holy Trinity, erected at the northernmost point of the planet - in Antarctica, is covered with wood.
Titanium nitride will not replace gold
They still resort to gilding domes today. This is done both by electroplating and by covering the domes with gold leaf, which is glued to the varnish, which in turn is applied to the primer. Each of these methods has its own advantages: applying gold leaf makes the dome perfectly round and allows it to be restored if damaged. With the galvanic gilding method, if the dome is damaged, it has to be remade.
IN modern world technology does not stand still, and now “golden” domes are made by covering them with a layer of titanium nitride. It is also durable and not as expensive as gold.
Titanium nitride was used for the first time in history modern Russia during the restoration of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Gilding the domes was then recognized by Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as too expensive, and he ordered the choice to be made of titanium nitride. In the aggressive atmosphere of the metropolis, the fake “gold” turned red after three years.
However, in the modest province, titanium domes continue to be in demand. True, some clergy believe that the shine of the new material is devoid of the inner dignity that is inherent in real gold.