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Humans have always been captivated by sparkling stones. This instinct to collect beautiful, gleaming gems is present in nearly every culture across history. People have been known to spend vast sums on the most rare and radiant gemstones. For instance, the Pink Star diamond fetched a staggering $71 million at auction in 2017. However, the value of gemstones goes beyond their monetary price – many believe they possess mythical abilities.
Here are ten fascinating stories about gemstones and the legends associated with them.
10. Emeralds
Emeralds have always been treasured by humans. Pliny the Elder recounts a tale that reveals the complex psychology behind gemstones. Ismenias, a flute player, was so fond of dazzling jewels that he ordered an emerald ring. When the ring-maker returned some of the gold he had paid for it, Ismenias was displeased. “By Hercules! he has done me but a bad turn in this, for the merit of the stone has been greatly impaired by this reduction in price.”
Even emperors were not immune to the allure of emeralds. It is said that Nero used an emerald as a lens to watch gladiators fight to the death. It's possible that Nero had poor vision, and the emerald was shaped to function as a monocle. Alternatively, he may have simply believed, like many Romans, that emeralds had the power to ease the strain on one's eyes.
The Inca are believed to have revered a massive emerald as a sacred object tied to their goddess Umina. The emerald was thought to be the heart of Umina herself, and anyone who touched it would be cured of their ailments. Smaller emeralds were offered to her at a shrine. When the Spanish invaders arrived, they destroyed many of these emeralds, mistakenly believing that genuine emeralds would resist being struck with a hammer.
9. Rubies
Rubies have captivated people for centuries with their deep, blood-red hue. The connection between the color of these gemstones and blood is more than just symbolic – some cultures actually believed the rubies were literal representations of blood. The ancient Rigveda of India tells the story of a demon named Vala who seized the throne.
Vala was duped into participating in a false sacrifice by the demigods. Once he was in position, they slaughtered him, scattering his body parts across the world. Where his blood landed, rubies began to grow. Another Hindu text states that offering rubies to the gods brings great rewards: 'He who worships Krishna with rubies will be reborn as a mighty emperor. If with a small ruby, he will be born a king.'
Interestingly, the Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that rubies had gender characteristics. 'In each variety of Ruby there are so-called “male” and “female” stones, with the former being more brilliant, while the latter has a subtler luster.'
8. Amethyst
Today, amethyst is classified as a semiprecious stone, but in ancient times, it was highly prized for its rich purple hue and scarcity in Europe. Purple was the color of emperors, and amethyst's royal appeal made it a highly sought-after gemstone. It was also believed to possess magical powers. Pliny the Elder mentions that certain dubious sorcerers 'tell us also, that if we inscribe the names of the sun and moon upon this stone, and then wear it suspended from the neck, with some hair of the cynocephalus and feathers of the swallow, it will act as a preservative against all noxious spells. It is said too, that worn in any manner, this stone will ensure access to the presence of kings; and that it will avert hail and the attacks of locusts.'
One of the most famous legends about amethyst is that wearing it prevents drunkenness. It is said that Anglican bishops wear amethyst rings to commemorate the event in Acts where St. Peter addresses a crowd, saying, 'These people [the apostles] are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!'
The name 'Amethyst' comes from the Greek word 'amethustos,' meaning 'not intoxicated.' Perhaps it is fitting that the god of wine, Dionysus, was gifted an amethyst to help maintain his sanity.
7. Pearls
Though pearls are used as gemstones, they are not technically stones. They are created by various species of mollusks, often as a defense mechanism against parasites. Due to their exquisite luster, they have always been highly valued. The Roman historian Suetonius recounts that one of Julius Caesar's motives for invading Britain was to seize the pearls from its rivers. During that period, most pearls were sourced from the distant Indian Ocean, sparking numerous myths about their origins.
A common belief was that pearls were the tears of a god or goddess. For the Greeks, they were said to form when Aphrodite wept tears of joy. In Japanese mythology, mermaids are credited with producing pearls through their crying.
Another Japanese legend tells of pearls used to defeat the Korean navy. The Empress Jingo of Japan is said to have prayed while holding seawater in her hands and was granted 'tide jewels' from the dragon palace beneath the sea. Among these were the 'pearl of ebb' and the 'pearl of flood.' When the pearl of ebb was cast into the sea, the ocean receded, trapping both the Korean and Japanese navies on the ocean floor. The Koreans abandoned their ships to attack the Japanese, but when the pearl of flood was cast into the sea, the waters rushed back in, drowning all the Korean warriors.
6. Amber
Amber is the ancient resin from trees that has undergone fossilization. It is most commonly found in a golden yellow hue, but can also appear in black, green, red, or white. In ancient times, amber was typically discovered washed up along the shores of the Baltic Sea, though it was widely traded throughout Europe and beyond.
To the Greeks and Romans, amber was another gemstone born from tears. The myth tells of Phaeton, who, while driving the sun's chariot too close to Earth, nearly set the world ablaze. He was cast into the Eridanus river and when his sisters found his body, they grieved so deeply that they withered away, transforming into trees. Their tears continued to fall even as trees, turning into amber. This story indicates that the ancients understood the link between tree resin and amber.
According to Lithuanian folklore, the goddess Jurate resided in an amber palace beneath the sea. She fell in love with a sailor, and together they lived in harmony for many years. But when the thunder god discovered their love, he conjured a storm that shattered the palace into countless fragments. This is why pieces of amber are still found along the shore after storms.
5. Garnet
Garnets were immensely popular during the Middle Ages. In Britain, the Anglo-Saxons used finely cut garnets set in gold to decorate their jewelry, armor, and weapons. However, the legends surrounding garnets stretch back even further. One legend suggests that Noah, during his journey on the ark, used a lamp made of garnet to light his way across the vast ocean.
The term 'garnet' is derived from the Latin word 'granatus', meaning 'seed.' This likely refers to the gem's small, crystal-like nuggets that, when deep red, resemble pomegranate seeds. Due to the myth of Persephone's captivity in Hades after consuming pomegranate seeds, garnets were once thought to be a powerful gift to bring a loved one back to you.
It is believed that wearing garnets while performing good deeds will bring positive results, while wearing one during an evil act will cause the wrong to return upon you.
4. Sapphire
Deep blue sapphires are among the most stunning of all gemstones, captivating people for thousands of years. Some stories claim that the Ten Commandments received by Moses were inscribed on two blocks of sapphire. Ancient Persians believed that the sky's blue color was a reflection of the sapphire foundation of the heavens.
Sapphires were thought to possess numerous healing properties. Some believed that wearing them could cure ailments, while others thought they needed to be consumed. Sapphire powder mixed with milk was said to treat sores, and placing a sapphire on the forehead was believed to stop nosebleeds.
Due to the unique structure of sapphire crystals, they sometimes display a star-shaped pattern when polished. These star sapphires were once considered to be especially mystical. They were believed to have the power to protect their owners from the 'evil eye' and prevent harm caused by jealousy.
3. Diamond
No gem surpasses the diamond in desire. Its crystal structure bends and refracts light into beautiful patterns. Diamonds were also the hardest known material, which granted them divine significance. In Hinduism, the god Indra wields a weapon named Vajrayudham, made of diamond. Diamonds were originally mined exclusively in India until new deposits were discovered in Brazil during the 18th century.
Numerous legends have grown around diamonds. In Europe, many large diamonds were believed to have been stolen from the statues of Indian gods. One such legend suggests that the famed Hope Diamond was taken from the forehead of an Indian idol. This sacrilege is said to have led to the curse of the Hope Diamond, with its first owner, perhaps a thief, being torn apart by dogs. Later owners met similarly tragic fates, according to legend.
Given the immense value placed on diamonds, people have gone to great lengths to acquire them. A popular tale about Alexander the Great recounts his clever scheme to steal diamonds from the Valley of the Jewels, which was guarded by venomous snakes. Alexander threw pieces of meat into the valley, and the diamonds adhered to the meat. Birds then swooped down to carry the meat away, and as they flew off, the snakes were scared off, allowing the diamonds to be collected.
2. Opal
Opal is a fragile gemstone, yet one that has always been highly valued. Pliny the Elder recounts the story of a wealthy man who had to flee with almost nothing but still managed to escape with a fortune thanks to his opal. He says, 'Nonius took to flight, carrying with him, out of all his wealth, nothing but this ring, the value of which, it is well known, was estimated at two millions of sesterces.' Before vast deposits of opal were found in Australia, the gemstone was incredibly rare in Europe.
The superstitions surrounding opals are as diverse as the array of colors they display. Some believed that opals were protective stones, able to turn pale when poison was nearby. Opals were thought to be so connected to their owners that they would lose their brilliance when the owner passed away. Others, however, believed that opals were evil gems.
Opals were also thought to grant the wearer the gift of invisibility. Perhaps due to this belief, one Christian bishop described the opal as 'the guardian of the thievish race; It gifts the bearer with acutest sight; But clouds all other eyes with thickest night.'
1. Lapis Lazuli
Many of the ancient references to sapphire may have actually been describing another beautiful blue gemstone—lapis lazuli. Mined only in the high mountains of Afghanistan, lapis lazuli was highly coveted throughout Mesopotamia and Egypt. Evidence of its extraction dates back to the 7th millennium BC.
The Sumerians held lapis lazuli in great esteem, believing it to be a stone fit for the gods. The goddess Innana was depicted in ancient texts wearing lapis jewelry and carrying a lapis rod. As she traveled through the underworld, she used the rod to measure the lifespan of each individual. The Babylonians also spoke of a tree that grew with lapis lazuli, and the Epic of Gilgamesh is richly adorned with the stone, including the horns of the fearsome Bull of Heaven and a chariot made of gold and lapis that Innana offered to tempt Gilgamesh.
The Egyptians made extensive use of lapis lazuli in their religious rites. The funerary mask of Tutankhamun is covered in the stone, and the Egyptian Book of the Dead contains a passage where the body of the deceased is transformed into lapis. 'Lord your upper part is lapis lazuli. Your hair is bestrewn with lapis lazuli. Your visage is covered with gold inlaid with lapis lazuli. Your eyebrows are inlaid with lapis lazuli.'
