The History of the Peridot - August's Gemstone

Author: Amber D. Schamel

The August birthstone is one of the most beautiful, and as it turns out, the peridot stone also has a rich history and I'm excited to share it with you today!

The word "peridot" stems from the Arabic word "feridat" which means "gem." Most gems are formed in the earth's crust, however the diamond and the peridot are different. Peridot is formed in magma of the upper mantel of the earth. About 20-55 miles deep! Volcanoes did us the service of bringing them up to where we could find them. Some peridot gems also came to earth in meteorites, however this form is very rare and not likely to be sold in jewelry stores. (I tried to find one for my sister who is born in August, but they are thousands of dollars and usually sold out.)

The peridot has always been linked to light, in fact, the Ancient Egyptians believed it was the "gem of the sun." Perhaps that belief stemmed from the fact that it arrives in meteorites or lava. Some ancients believed that the gem could ward off evil spirits, or that the wearer was protected from the terrors of the night. Other cultures believed that peridot could dissolve enchantments. Medical uses have included placing the gem under the tongue of a person with fever, which was supposed to help lessen their thirst. Others believed the gem could cure asthma if used in powdered form.

Topazios Island, Egypt

Similar to the emerald, the peridot was mined as early as 1500 BC and seems to have first been discovered in Egypt. Early records and legends tell us that peridot was mined in Ancient Egypt on an island called Topazios (now known as St. John's Island or Zabargad) in the Red Sea. Although, given the name of the island, they probably didn't realize what stone they had. According to the legend, the island was infested with snakes, which made mining dangerous and difficult, until a clever pharaoh found a way to drive all the serpents into the sea.

People throughout most of history confused the peridot with other stones, such as topaz and emerald. Some historians believe that Cleopatra's emerald collection consisted of peridot rather than genuine emerald. People in medieval times confused the peridot with the emerald as well. The 200-ct. gems in the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in the Cologne Cathedral in Germany was believed to be emeralds for centuries...turns out they are actually peridot. 

Shrine of the Three Kings
Arminia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

The breastplate of the High Priest of Israel contained twelve stones, one to represent each tribe, and one of those gems is believed to be peridot. 

Today, there are five main sources of this rare gem. The best specimens come from Burma. Arizona and New Mexico source much of the commercial grade peridot for the United States. China, Vietnam and Pakistan are also among the sources. 

Between the peridot's beauty, unique formation, and rich history, it is a highly prized gem and one you can be proud of if you are born in the month of August. 

Comment below if you were born in the month of August and you may be the lucky winner of a free ebook from me! (Winner will have their choice of my ebooks.)

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for Christian Historical Fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

Between enjoying life as a newlywed, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples. Find her on any of the major social media sites.  Amber is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

History of the Ruby: July's Birthstone

Blogger: Amber Schamel

Happy birthday to all of you July babies who share a birth month with America. :) I'm excited to share the history behind this month's birthstone with you because it is one of the most historically rich gemstones. Its history even dates back far enough to be mentioned in one of the oldest books of the Bible. So, even if your birthday isn't in July, I think you'll enjoy our exploration into the ruby's history. 

The gemstone's name, "ruby", comes from the Latin word ruber, which means "red." Because of the ruby's glowing red color, it is associated with blood, therefore life, which encompasses safety, protection, etc. It is also associated with strong emotion, such as passion and love. Some believe the ruby to be the most precious of the 12 stones created by God. 

The ruby is so old, that we actually don't know when it was originally discovered. We do know that it was used for trade along China's Silk Road as early as 200 B.C. Logic would say that it was first discovered somewhere in the Orient, since the Oriental people seemed to have it first and were among those to treasure it most highly.

Ruby eye pendant from an ancient civilization in Mesopotamia.
Adilnor Collection, Sweden
Photo Credit: Danieliness / CC BY-SA

The Hindu people in India believe the ruby to have many powers, the main one being centered around safety. They believed that rubies would even enable them to have peace with their enemies. Nearby Burma has been a source of rubies since at least 600 AD. The Burmese believed that warriors who possessed the stone would be invincible in battle. The catch? They couldn't just wear them, you had to embed them into your flesh. Chinese had a similar belief, except they settled for mounting the jewels in their armor rather than in their skin. 

The Old Testament mentions the ruby seven times, comparing the gem to wisdom. 

One of the most interesting things about the ruby's historical journey, is that is wasn't fully appreciated for its uniqueness until after 1800 when scientists discovered that it is a corundum stone. Prior to that, garnet, red spinel and tourmaline were believed to be the ruby as well. In fact, even the "Black Prince's Ruby" that sits in the center of the Maltese cross on the front of the Imperial Crown of England was thought to be the largest cut ruby, until it was determined to be spinel. 

England's Imperial State Crown
Photo is Public Domain: By Cyril Davenport (1848 – 1941)

 

However, even since ancient Rome, other stones have been used as imitation rubies. A practice which survives today, although synthetic rubies are also growing in popularity. 

At any rate, the ruby is a rare and highly prized stone with an unmatched beauty and history. So if you're born in July, you have something to brag about. ;)

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  

She lives in Colorado Springs near her favorite mountain as a very happy newlywed. 

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!