| ANCIENT MYTHS | | | | pearls together, since they believed dragons |
| Crystals, minerals and metals have played various | | | | fighting in the clouds caused pearls to drop from |
| roles in the myths and legends of human cultures | | | | the sky in the form of rain. During the Dark Ages, |
| throughout history. They are fascinating examples | | | | gallant knights often wore pearls onto the |
| of the attempts of the men and women of | | | | battlefield to protect them from harm. Long been |
| ancient times to explain their world without the | | | | a favorite for brides and newly weds. The ancient |
| benefit of science and with each culture's biases, | | | | Greeks believed that wearing pearls would |
| superstitions and interests impressed upon them | | | | promote harmony in a marriage and prevent |
| and therefore provide us with an especially vivid | | | | newlyweds from shedding tears. Also, a very |
| picture of the psychology of ancient man. What | | | | popular gem to Ancient Egyptians. Reportedly, |
| gemstone could make heroes stronger? Legends | | | | Cleopatra dissolved a single pearl in a glass of |
| of Jewels, Quartz Mythology, Myths about | | | | wine and drank it, simply to win a wager with |
| crystals and myths about jewelry; Some of those | | | | Marc Anthony that she could consume the wealth |
| ancient myths and legends have come down | | | | of an entire country in just one meal. |
| intact through the centuries. Others have evolved | | | | PERIDOT |
| and mutated as result of the input of other | | | | Early Egyptian priests drank a stimulating |
| culture as they came into contact with one | | | | beverage called Soma from cups made of |
| another. | | | | Peridot, believing this practice to draw them closer |
| AMETHYST | | | | to Isis, the goddess of nature. It was believed |
| The most popular mythology surrounding | | | | that the Peridot glowed with light even as |
| amethyst is from ancient Greece. The word | | | | darkness fell, which is why miners were said to |
| "amethyst" is of Greek origin and is translated as- | | | | have scouted for these gems during the night, |
| "amethystus" meaning not drunken, or intoxicated | | | | marking their location, and returning in the light of |
| ("-methystos" from "methyein" or intoxicated, | | | | day to retrieve them. The ancients believed that |
| "methy" = wine). As a symbol of sincerity and | | | | it had the power to dissolve enchantments and to |
| stability, the unique purple shades of amethyst | | | | drive evil spirits away. Peridot was even able to |
| have been declared the "Rose de France" and has | | | | strengthen the power of any medicine drunk |
| been set, even today, in Victorian jewelry (rings, | | | | from goblets carved from the gemstone. When |
| bracelets, necklaces, hair accessories etc.). The | | | | used as protection against the wiles of evil spirits, |
| mythology of this stone, unsurprisingly, spreads | | | | peridot was pierced and then strung on the hair |
| through modern mythology and even ancient and | | | | of a donkey, and attached to the left arm. In |
| recent legend. | | | | powder, peridot was used as a remedy for |
| AQUAMARINE | | | | asthma. When held under the tongue, it was |
| According to some legends, aquamarine is the | | | | believed to lessen the thirst in fever. |
| treasure of mermaids, with the power to keep | | | | RUBYif worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it |
| sailors safe. Supposedly its' powers are particularly | | | | that the Ruby will bring good fortune to its |
| strong when immersed in water. While on land, it | | | | wearer, too! Ruby has been the world's most |
| is said to have a soothing influence on married | | | | valued gemstone for thousands of years. Ruby |
| couples. The ancient Romans believed that the | | | | was said to be the most precious of the twelve |
| Aquamarine was sacred to Neptune, the god of | | | | stones God created when he created all things, |
| the sea, having fallen from the jewel boxes of | | | | and this "lord of gems" was placed on Aaron's |
| sirens and washed onto shore. Early sailors wore | | | | neck by God's command. In the Bible, Job says |
| aquamarine talismans, engraved with the likeness | | | | that wisdom is more precious than rubies Rubies |
| of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea. | | | | were thought to represent heat and power. |
| DIAMONDS | | | | Ancient tribes used the gem as bullets for |
| The ancient Greeks and Romans believed they | | | | blowguns, and it was said that a pot of water |
| were tears of the Gods and splinters from falling | | | | would boil instantly if a Ruby was tossed into it. |
| stars. Cupids' arrows were supposed to be tipped | | | | Ground to powder and placed on the tongue, this |
| with diamonds, having thus a magic that nothing | | | | crystal was used as a cure for indigestion. Among |
| else can equal. Plato wrote about diamonds as | | | | the multitude of legends and strange beliefs of |
| living beings, embodying celestial spirits. The Hindus | | | | ancient times, it was thought that the wearer of |
| believed that they were created when bolts of | | | | a ruby was blessed with health, wealth, wisdom |
| lightning struck rocks. They even placed some in | | | | and outstanding success in`heart affairs |
| the eyes of some of their statues. Jewish high | | | | '.Furthermore, the wearer acquired the ability to |
| priests turned to diamonds to decide the | | | | live in peace with his enemies. In some places |
| innocence or guilt of the accused: a stone held | | | | ruby was even thought to confer invulnerability. |
| before a guilty person was supposed to dull and | | | | SAPPHIRE |
| darken, while when held before an innocent one | | | | Ancient civilizations believed that the world was |
| to glow with increased brilliance The Romans | | | | set upon an enormous sapphire, which painted the |
| wore diamonds because these were thought to | | | | sky blue with its reflection. In ancient times, |
| possess broad magical powers over life s | | | | Sapphires were thought to be protective against |
| troubles, being able in particular to give to the | | | | envy, and even against poisoning. A common |
| wearer strength, invincibility, bravery, and courage | | | | belief was that a venomous snake placed in a |
| during battle. Kings, in old days, led the battles on | | | | Sapphire vessel would rapidly die! Ground to a |
| the battlefields wearing heavy leather breastplates | | | | powder, the blue stone was believed to cure colic, |
| studded with diamonds and other precious stones | | | | rheumatism and mental illness, and to strengthen |
| because it was believed that diamonds possessed | | | | eyesight. Sapphire has long symbolized truth, |
| God given magical qualities and powers far | | | | sincerity, and faithfulness. The ancients regarded |
| beyond the understanding of common man. Thus, | | | | star sapphires as a very powerful talisman, a |
| warriors stayed clear of Kings and those who | | | | guiding star for travelers and seekers of all kinds. |
| were fortunate enough to have the magical | | | | The Tradition holds that Moses was given the ten |
| diamonds in their breastplates. | | | | commandments on tablets of sapphire, making it |
| EMERALD | | | | the most sacred gemstone. Because sapphires |
| The Romans believed that emeralds with a pale | | | | represent divine favor, they were the gemstone |
| hue were immature and would grow to a deeper, | | | | of choice for kings and high priests. The British |
| richer colour with age. The ancient Roman scholar | | | | Crown Jewels are full of large blue sapphires, and |
| Pliny was so moved by the emerald's lush colour | | | | even more recently Prince Charles chose a |
| he wrote, nothing is more intense than the green | | | | sapphire engagement ring for Lady Diana. |
| of emerald and sight is refreshed and restored by | | | | TOPAZ |
| gazing upon this stone . Following his advise, | | | | The Egyptians believed that topaz was colored |
| Roman emperor Nero wore emerald sunglasses | | | | with the golden glow of the sun god Ra. The |
| to watch the gladiators. Emerald is said to give a | | | | ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to |
| supernatural ability to foretell future events. A | | | | increase one s strength and make its wearer |
| surprising variety of virtues have been ascribed to | | | | invisible in cases of emergency. The Romans |
| emerald. Among these, emerald was thought to | | | | associated topaz with Jupiter, who is also the god |
| improve its owner s memory and eloquence, and | | | | of the sun. In the 19th century, pink topaz was |
| was also said to quicken intelligence. In a particular | | | | discovered in Russia. The gemstone was so |
| instance of emerald s use, as a measure against | | | | coveted that only the Czar, his family, and those |
| ills, women wearing the stone were believed to be | | | | he gave it to were allowed ownership. When worn |
| immune from epilepsy. GARNET The | | | | as amulet, topaz was said to drive away sadness |
| pomegranate (and garnet) is associated with | | | | and strengthen the intellect. Mounted in gold and |
| eternity in many Greek Myths. Many have | | | | hung around the neck, it was believed to dispel |
| associated the gift of the pomegranate seeds | | | | bad charms. Reduced to powder and put in wine, |
| with the gift of fine garnet gems. It's meaning has | | | | topaz was a cure for insomnia, asthma, burns and |
| given symbolism to garnet as a gift of love's | | | | hemorrhage. Topaz was also said to change its |
| attraction, a gift of quick return or as a gift of | | | | color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. All |
| estranged love. This myth gave partial rise to the | | | | these mystical powers were believed to increase |
| belief that garnet is a stone for loved ones who | | | | and decrease with the phases of the moon. One |
| travel and a crystal that can heal the broken | | | | of the most famous topaz gems is a giant |
| bonds between lovers. | | | | specimen set in the Portuguese Crown. |
| OPAL | | | | TURQUOISE |
| In ancient times, opal had been regarded as the | | | | Turquoise was considered by ancients to be a |
| luckiest and most magical of all the gem's because | | | | sacred stone, protective against all manners of |
| of its' ability to showcase a multitude of colours. | | | | evil and ill health. The blue color of turquoise was |
| The Greeks of old believed the stone to give it's | | | | thought to have powerful metaphysical properties |
| bearer the powers of foresight and prophecy. | | | | by many ancient cultures. In ancient Mexico, |
| The Arabs of Mohammed's time were quite | | | | turquoise was reserved for the gods and could |
| enamored of the gem, and were convinced they | | | | not be worn by mere mortals. In Asia, turquoise |
| were carried to earth on bolts of lightning. One | | | | was considered as effective protection against |
| myth (probably of Greek origin) tells of a storm | | | | the evil eye. In Tibet even today, turquoise is by |
| god throwing a bolt of lightning at the rainbow | | | | far the most popular of all materials used for |
| that ended his storm. The subsequent explosion | | | | personal adornment, and still play an important |
| of colours fell to the earth, embedding themselves | | | | part in religious ceremonies. In the United States |
| in the rocks, creating the opal. | | | | South West, the Apache believed that turquoise |
| PEARL | | | | helped warriors and hunters to aim accurately. |
| Long known as the "Queen of Gems," pearls | | | | The Zuni believed that it protected them from |
| possess a history and allure far beyond what | | | | demons. Another belief was that turquoise had |
| today's wearer may recognize. In China, pearls | | | | the power to protect the wearer from injury |
| were thought to be raindrops swallowed by | | | | from falling, especially falling from horse-back, and |
| oysters. The Chinese associated dragons and | | | | that it made the horse more sure footed. |