History of the Opal: October's Birthstone

 

Blogger: Amber Schamel

October is finally here! And with it comes cooler weather, pumpkin spice, and everything cozy. If you are born in the month of October, you're lucky to have a birthday in what I consider the most beautiful season of the year. Autumn is the season for color changes, which is why the birthstone of Opal makes perfect sense. 

The word "Opal" is derived from the Greek "Opallios" and Latin "Opalus". Both words mean "to perceive a color change." Opal is an extremely old gemstone, with the first known relics dating back to 4000 B.C. found in a cave in Kenya. It is believed that opal originated in Ethiopia, however it was the ancient Romans that made the gemstone popular. Pliny the Elder wrote of the opal in his book, Natural History of the World during the first century A.D. claiming that it was the most prized of all gemstones.

Ethiopian Opal
Photo By Doxymo
Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

“For in them you shall see the living fire of ruby, the glorious purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light”. ~Pliny First Century A.D.

 The Romans believed that the source of Opal was India, however that was a myth circulated by traders who sought to protect their interests. The real source was Hungary, what is now known as Slovakia.

Some ancient civilizations believed that opal had the power to bestow upon the wearer the ability to see into the future. 

While Cleopatra had a fascination with emeralds, the opal was Mark Antony's beloved gem. According to Pliny, Antony banished a Senator because he refused to sell an opal ring to him.

Bust of Mark Antony
Public Domain

Antony was not the only monarch who loved the gem. The crown jewels of France, as well as the crown of the Holy Roman Emperor contained opal, Hungarian Royalty and Queen Victoria loved them as well. Napoleon gifted an opal he called the "Burning of Troy" to his empress, Josephine, and she wore it often as one of her favorite pieces.

There are many variations of opal, which is what makes it one of the most diverse and beautiful gemstones in the world, and also makes it a perfect stone for October. 

Happy Birthday to all of you beautiful and diverse October folks!

 

*****

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 and 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.

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!

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!