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INDEX
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Gemstones Through the Ages
Part II
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Another gem linked with the moon was the pearl. It was also dedicated to Hecate-Artemis (Diana) who was the Moon-Goddess in Greek mythology. It was considered to be a symbol of purity, innocence and peace. Many young girls wore the emblem of the
Moon-Goddess and it was an important part of the bridal wear. Pearls were braided into the hair of the bride and sewn into her dress as a mark of respect and also to show purity.
Pliny taught that pearls were the result of dew drops falling into oyster shells at breeding time. He also said that quality of the pearl varied with the amount of dew received by the pearl. If the dew was pure, the pearl would be lustrous and dull if the
dew was foul or if it was cloudy. Lightning stopped the pearl from growing and thunder made the oyster miscarry and eject the hollow husk (ie. bubbles).
The other ocean gem was coral. The ancient Greek word for coral was Gorgeia which came from the myth of Perseus slaying the gorgon Medusa. He killed the snake-haired one without being turned to stone and carried her head, which he had severed from her
body, in a sack. Resting for a while on his long journey home he sat the sack down on a bed of seaweed on the edge of the sea. With Medusa's powers still working she turned the bed of seaweed into stone. Sea nymphs rose from the water and took the
now-fossilized seaweed beneath the waves where they became the first coral beds. Coral had many healing properties. Plato said that hanging coral around children's necks as well as to rub their gums would prevent "falling sickness". He also found that
coral had special powers of diagnosis. If a person was wearing coral around their neck and the coral became colorless and dull the person was surely ill. When the coral regained its color the person had regained his health.
Hanging coral around children's necks was also well documented by Pliny. He tells us that Romans believed that coral had certain magical powers which included fending off ailments in the young and also successfully helped in the teething of babies.
Garnet was also a stone with many powers. Garnet was mined in ancient times in Bohemia and found its way around the world usually as spoils of one sacked city or another. Garnet was always carved into a cabochon with a slightly concave base - this was
called a carbuncle. A carbuncle was mentioned in the Bible as being set into the breastplate of judgment worn by the high priest.
Garnets were valuable talismans to ancient warriors. It was believed by Greeks to prevent injury and death in battle and to bring victory and also to give the wearer the peace of spirit that was needed to enjoy it. Garnet of course, had magical healing
powers as well. It was thought by ancient Greek and Roman physicians to have had the power to stem blood flow so surgeons would place a garnet on or near serious wounds and haemorrhages. Warriors would also carry garnets into battle to assist the doctors
if need be.
All red stones were believed to have the power to stem blood flow. Another one was the ruby. Rubies were mined in Burma and brought to the Mediterranean. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus, taught that, like many other stones, rubies were separated into
male and female categories. The male gems were the most brilliant. The duller stones were, even then treated by being steeped in vinegar. This gave the stones a temporary luster and proved that counterfeiters were just as busy then!
Rubies were also thought to banish sadness and dispel evil dreams and even up to the middle ages were believed to protect against the plague. Also in this time a suspension of ground rubies in fruit juice was said to be a panacea.
Sapphire was a stone used in black magic by the Greeks. It helped them to decipher the most cryptic predictions of the Oracles. Witches used the sky-blue stone to fix enchantments and spells. Those who consulted the Oracle at the shrine of the God Apollo
were required to wear sapphire. Prometheus, who braved the wrath of Zeus for stealing fire from him and giving it to mankind was said to be wearing a sapphire ring at the time.
Gemstones did not only have the power to heal and protect but also had other valuable uses. For example, carnelian was noted by the ancient Greeks (although probably first by the Egyptians) to separate very easily from wax and clay, and therefore was used
for carving seals used by royalty and merchants alike to authenticate their documents. Jasper was also used in this way as was serpentine and because of it's unique appearance was also highly favored by Egyptians for carving vases, boxes and magnificent
scarabs. Serpentine was also used in building. Many columns were made from serpentine as well as the ever present marble.
Topaz was a stone that proved valuable for divination. Topaz or chrysolite as it was then called, comes from the Greek words 'kreusos' (gold) and 'lithos' (stone). Topaz was set into the tips of wands and was used to find gold and other precious metals.
Flint, although not really considered a gemstone these days was used by the Egyptians to make knives used in special burial and embalming ceremonies. Flint was also used for carving scarabs. The name flint came from the Greek word Plinthos meaning
"brick". Flint was used by Greeks and Romans and later, Britons, for making arrow heads. This began in the Stone Age when flint was also used to make hammer heads. Some of these arrow heads were unearthed in Europe in the Middle Ages and were believed to
have been witches teeth and also the teeth of vampires who preyed on children.
Malachite and lapis lazuli are not considered precious gemstones because of their non-crystalline structure but were very highly prized by ancient cultures. Lapis lazuli was highly prized as a healing stone as well as an exotic adornment. Egyptians
believed lapis lazuli to be a great healer. Hieroglyphs tell us that it was used with milk and slime from the Nile as a treatment for cataracts. It was also used for treating neuralgia and head pains.
The Egyptians revered lapis lazuli and carved it into many religious forms; most importantly, the eye of the Nature Goddess, Isis. It was decorated with gold foil and was used to watch over the souls of the departed on their final journey. The Greeks
also used a great amount of lapis lazuli. They believed that the stone was a sapphire sprinkled with gold dust. It was believed by the Greeks to have the power to prevent miscarriage and also to give powers of special "sight" or perception. This is still
believed today in New Age religions as it is the color of the Third Eye Chakra which governs the mind and the psychic.
Malachite, a copper carbonate, was found in large quantities in ancient Egypt and was also found in the famous copper mines of King Solomon on the Red Sea. Malachite was used by the Egyptians both for it's healing properties and as an adornment. Malachite
was believed to have protected the wearer from cholera which ravished Egypt in plagues. It was worn in bands around the head or arms and because of this was probably then incorporated into jewelry and other fineries.
Egyptian women used ground malachite as makeup for their eyes, lashes and hair. Greeks and Romans also used malachite and made jewelry and talismans from it. It was used to ward off evil spells and thoughts. 'Malachite' comes from the Greek word 'malache'
which was the name used for the marshmallow plant's green coloring.
The list of gemstones used by ancient peoples is endless. Agate, which was found in and named after the River Achates and around the Aegean Sea protected against falls and accidents. Ammonite, fossilized molluscs, was used as a symbol of Ammon-Ra who was
the chief deity of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom.
Julius Caesar banished one of his senators for not giving him his opal ring. Opals were prized by the Romans and Greeks, who both named the stone 'paederos', for bringing good fortune.
Moonstone was thought by Greeks and Romans to reflect the moon. Since the moon was a very important part of mythology (especially Greek) moonstone was a highly prized stone and linked with the Moon Goddess.
The powerful energies of gemstones that have been realized by man from ancient times has carried through the ages and is still being taught and learnt today. In ancient times the power of not only gemstones but also plants and all other products of the
earth went hand in hand with religion and some of the new age religions of today still depend totally on the powers of crystals to heal and protect. Scientists have found definite energy fields around crystals and gemstones but there is always debate
about what these energies can actually do.
Gemstones are such personal items invoking such personal feeling it seems that the ancient beliefs will be debated for years to come.
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Copyright, 1997 by Leanne Ware
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Leanne Ware was born in Australia and has lived there all her life. Her formal education was in Canberra, A.C.T., then at the age of 20, she went to Lightning Ridge, N.S.W. and got involved in the opal business, mining underground and also operating
prospecting drilling rigs. Then she started cutting opals.
Leanne's interest in ancient Greece really took hold during travels in Europe and the US in '90 and again in '91. She has also spent a lot of time in Hong Kong and Japan selling opal in this area. She kept opal cutting until late 94 and also gave cutting
demonstrations, lessons and lectures on the subject.
Leanne told us, " I have done a little bit of opal cutting since then just to keep my hand in. I now live with my 2 daughters who are 3 and 4 in Red Rock, a very beautiful town on the beach on the east coast of Australia. I am going to University next
year to study ancient history and English and I hope at some time in the future to be a history teacher." Leanne Ware can be reached at hecate@tpgi.com.au.
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