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Sylvia Rose

Seven Precious Stones of the Ancient World

Updated: Oct 4

Precious stones are made by economic supply and demand. First, however, they're formed by fire and pressure for millions of years. Prized for aesthetic beauty, gems create their own mythology. Quartz may be dyed to imitate gems, an essential skill of early alchemists.



woman with jewelry


Stories surrounding gemstones come from the purveyors of the rocks. Gems with mystical properties sell better than those only nice to look at. Rich in hue, translucent with an inner glow caused by metallic inclusions, many gemstones seem truly magical.


One example of the market driving the meaning of gems is the famous 20th century De Beers diamond selling quip, "diamonds are forever" along with images of brides or weddings. Thus diamonds become associated with marriage and eternity.



diamonds or glass

Likewise, merchants associate blue of sapphires with the traditional (spiritual) color theory of honesty and loyalty connected to the color blue to sell sapphire engagement rings. Due to clever marketing this association becomes trendy.


Coveted gemstones go in and out of style through the ages. Among those revered for enduring beauty and mystical properties are ruby, emerald, garnet, sunstone, carnelian, amethyst, and amber.


1. Ruby


The radiant ruby derives its name from rubēs , Latin for red, capturing its vibrant crimson hue. In alchemy rubedo is the red or final stage of the Great Work.



Rubies are a variety of the mineral corundum. In ancient cultures, rubies symbolize passion, protection, and prosperity. They bring good fortune to wearers and are often associated with royalty, especially since non-royalty can't afford them.


Formation and Geology


Rubies get their vibrant red color from trace amounts of chromium. They form in metamorphic rocks under high pressure and temperature conditions, often found in locations like Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.


Properties


Rubies have a Mohs hardness of 9, just below diamond. Like diamond and emerald, ruby is hard but brittle, and can be shattered with a hammer blow.


Mythology and Ancient Uses


In ancient India, rubies are thought to hold the power to grant wishes and protect their owners in battle. They're often embedded in armor or jewelry worn by royalty, one of the reasons battlegrounds are often scavenged by locals or camp followers.


Modern Uses


Rubies are once used in clockworks. Today, rubies are cherished not only for their aesthetic value but also in industrial applications, such as in lasers.


2. Emerald (Smaragdus)


Emeralds have a rich green hue tending to blue. Formed from beryl, these precious stones are purveyed as symbolic of rebirth and eternal youth. Meditating with emerald is considered to bring clarity and foresight. Smaragdus is the Latin overall derived from Persian "green stone".



emerald platinum earrings
Emerald Platinum Earrings

Trends are driven by tales of allure, often danger in obtaining these magnificent stones. Trends affect the wealthy and powerful, from monarchs to caliphs to rajahs and aristocrats, and thus trickle down to the general population.


As few people can afford genuine smaragdus in the ancient world, emerald is a popular colored imitation gem. Alchemists create these beauties with skill and knowledge, passing these essentials to their students.


Formation and Geology


Emeralds are a variety of beryl, a mineral composed of beryllium aluminium silicate with chemical formula Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈. Another well-known variety of beryl is aquamarine.


The emerald is colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. These stones typically form in hydrothermal veins, or areas of trapped heat and steam, in metamorphic rocks.


Properties


Emeralds are 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, which makes them more vulnerable to wear than diamonds (10), rubies and sapphires (both 9). However because the valued emerald has many inclusions it's more subject to fracture.


Lack of inclusions usually means the gem is lab-manufactured, as is common today, or dyed, common in ancient and medieval times. Today however inclusions in real gems are minimized due to the appealing clarity of lab-made stones. Real emeralds are 20x rarer than diamonds.

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Mythology and Ancient Uses


In ancient Egypt, emeralds were regarded as symbols of fertility and rebirth. Cleopatra famously adorns herself with emeralds and believed that the stone possessed healing properties. Emerald is the birthstone for May.


Modern Uses


Today, emeralds are increasingly valued as precious gemstones in jewelry. They are often treated to improve clarity, which reflects their significant ongoing appeal.


Treating might include heating to high temperatures, which helps deepen the color tone. Many of today's natural gems are heat treated. In some it like amethyst it causes a miraculous color change.


3. Garnet


With varied colors from deep red to vibrant orange, garnet has a history over 5000 years old. Formed in metamorphic rocks, Garnets are worn as protective talismans by ancient warriors.



beautiful garnet
garnet

These gemstones were thought to imbue their wearers with strength and courage. Nowadays, garnets are praised not only for their color and structural beauty. They are often marketed as having spiritual grounding properties.


Formation and Geology


Garnets are a group of silicate minerals that form in metamorphic rocks through high pressures and temperatures. Their formation can also occur in igneous rocks. In garnets with high amounts of spessartine, the metal manganese (Mn2+) creates orange and yellow colors.


In garnets of the almandine species, iron (Fe2+) contributes purplish red color. Magnesium, another iron, or manganese in this combination gives a browner stone. There are three types of green garnet: andradite, grossular and uvarovite. Green garnets tend more toward yellow yellow green than blue green, but are sometimes confused with emeralds.


Properties


These stones are renowned for their diverse range of colors, though red garnets are the most recognized. They're 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.


Mythology and Ancient Uses


Garnets were utilized by the ancient Egyptians as protective talismans and were often placed in tombs and inlaid in tomb artwork. Much of the dark red gemstone decorating Egyptian ornaments is more likely to be garnet than ruby.


Modern Uses


Today, garnets are essential in abrasives and filtration and remain popular in the jewelry market. While it's are considered a semi-precious in today's world garnet is coveted stone in ancient times.


4. Sunstone


Sunstone


Sunstone has dazzling orange and golden tones and is much coveted in the ancient world. It's said to represent the sun's tangible connection to the Earth. Sunstones were highly prized in ancient times for their perceived powerful connection to life force and energy.



sunstone
Sunstone

Today, sunstones are cherished for their unique shimmer. Inclusions in sunstone may be can be metallic hematite, copper or other mineral. Oregon sunstone is transparent feldspar with copper inclusions. In myth they are said to enhance creativity and nurture a positive outlook.


This jewel can be colorless but usually manifests a wide variety of colors, such as pink with brilliant aventurescence, pale yellow, orange, red, green, and blue-green. Sunstone is also a popular imitation gem created by ancient alchemists.


Formation and Geology


A feldspar mineral, sunstone exhibits a shimmering effect called aventurescence due to its unique internal inclusions. Aventurescence, the look of sparkles inside the rock, typically forms in igneous rocks. It's named for its first discovery in the green stone aventurine.


Properties

Sunstone has a hardness of 6 and 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It's a good quality stone for carving.


Mythology and Ancient Uses


In Nordic lore the sunstone is believed to help sailors navigate using the sun's position even on cloudy days. This is attested in 13th and 14th Icelandic writings. Sunstones are noted in inventories of several churches and a monastery in 14th -15th-century Iceland and Germany..


Modern Uses

Sunstone is primarily used in jewelry today, cherished for its unique optical properties.


5. Carnelian



Carnelian is revered for its sunny brilliant orange color and tones ranging from pale gold to deep red. It's formed from chalcedony, a type of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite, another silica mineral. Chalcedony often produces translucent gems.


Formation and Geology


Carnelian is a variety of chalcedony, formed from silica deposited in layers over time. Its distinctive reddish-brown hue is due to the presence of iron oxide.


Properties


With a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, carnelian is appreciated for its warm tones and smooth finish. Carnelian appears in shades of yellow, gold, orange and red to dark red. Carnelian is also known as silicon dioxide (SiO2). Its lack of cleavage makes it an excellent carving stone.


Mythology and Ancient Uses


It is associated with vitality and motivation. This gemstone has been used by members of ancient civilizations like the Babylonians and Egyptians. Carnelian with desirable for amulets and jewelry and grave goods for perceived protective qualities.


Carnelian was believed to harness the sun's energy and promote courage and confidence. A favored stone of ancient Egypt, carnelian is worn as an amulet for protection during battles. Modern interpretations of Carnelian emphasize its ability to boost creativity and passion.


Modern Uses


Carnelian is used in jewelry and carved pieces. It's gained popularity in holistic practices for its believed energy-boosting properties.


6. Amethyst



amethyst jewels
Amethyst


Amethyst is a variety of quartz known for its purple color tones. A mystical color, purple imbues amethyst with perceived spiritual and healing properties throughout history.


The ancient Greeks and Romans believe amethyst can prevent intoxication. Its name comes from Greek amethystos meaning "not drunk." It usually appears in crystals from pale to deep purple, often adding a touch of color to clear quartz.


Formation and Geology


Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz formed from volcanic rocks. In the ancient world it's rare and expensive. This gemstone is characterized by its superb color resulting from a combination of iron inclusions and radiation.


Properties


Amethyst is 7 on the Mohs scale and is cherished for its stunning purple hues. When subjected to high heat, amethyst changes color to resemble the yellow-orange stone citrine, although it doesn't have the same gemological properties


Mythology and Ancient Uses


Because of the ancient belief amethyst can prevent intoxication, and it's often carved into drinking vessels. Amethyst is sacred to the god Dionysus. Today, amethyst is attributed calming energy and is often used in meditation.


Modern Uses

Although no longer considered a precious stone, amethyst remains highly prized in contemporary jewelry. It's also popular in metaphysical practices.



7. Amber


Amber, not a traditional gemstone but fossilized tree resin, holds a unique place in ancient cultures due to its warm golden hues and organic origins. Today, Amber is valued for its earthy charm and is often used in jewelry and decorative pieces.



Formation and Geology


Amber is fossilized tree resin. In the ancient world it's found in Sicily and most famously in the Baltic due to a primordial fossilized forest deep beneath the waves. Its formation can take millions of years, during which time it solidifies and can trap and preserve ancient organisms.


It's defined as tree resin by Pliny the Elder in the first century AD. By this time amber trade and the the famous amber roads are supplying the golden jewel to the south. Earliest trade with southern Europe is in the Bronze Age, as evidenced by artifacts of Baltic amber in Spain.


Properties


Amber is relatively lightweight and can range in color from yellow to deep orange. It varies in hardness from 2 to 3 on the Mohs scale.


Mythology and Ancient Uses


Amber is responsible for some of the the earliest trade routes. It's been used since the Stone Age in amulets and decorative items, with ancient cultures believing it to possess protective power. It's often burned as incense, which is how Pliny identifies it.


In Baltic mythology, amber comes from palace beneath the sea. It's inhabited by the goddess Jurate and destroyed by her father, the god Perkūnas because she falls in love with a mortal.

Modern Uses

Today, amber is used in jewelry and decorative arts and is still valued for its unique beauty and historical significance. Amber was often associated with the sun, representing life force and vitality.



coloring gemstones


Non-Fiction Books:


Fiction Books:

READ: Lora Ley Adventures - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series

READ: Reiker For Hire - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries




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