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| Its one of those dancing with Murphy's Law days... |
Isn't it funny how the value of things change through the years?
I've always had a fascination for gemstones. Aside from
the sheer beauty of the stones was the metaphysical properties assigned to them
both by ancient cultures and the resurgence of those beliefs in modern times.
Precious gemstones have always been used in both in secular and religious
rituals—Christian and pagan.
Ancients placed great value on stones that today aren't so valued. Amethyst and red sardonyx is two such gems.
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| Purple Sapphire |
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| Amethyst Quartz |
For instance, amethyst was highly prized and up until the
18th century amethyst was included in with the most valuable
cardinal gemstones. Cardinal stones include diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and
emeralds. Today, amethyst is relatively inexpensive, in part, because of the
discovery of rich deposits of the stones in Brazil, Zambia (two of the largest
producers), Austria and even here in the states. This availability relegated
the amethyst quartz from precious to semi-precious category.
In ancient times there were two different types of
amethyst, occidental (quartz) and oriental (sapphire). Orient amethyst is a
form or a species of the sapphire family and when in the clear form (colorless)
is almost indistinguishable from a diamond both in hardness and brilliance.
Today the term Oriental amethyst is an illegal term among gem dealers in many
countries. Instead these are considered a purple variety of sapphire.
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| Engraved Amethyst |
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| Engraved Sardonyx |
The other form in ancient times was from the western
world and quartz family. It’s softer and has been used to make engraved jewelry
and pendants. Quartz amethyst was also used to make drinking cups, wine goblets
and chalices, many intricately engraved and popular because it was thought to
prevent or be an antidote to drunkenness. J
Red sardonyx, or red onyx was highly prized by ancients
in Egypt as well as in Rome. Today we
think of the more common black onyx but it comes in quite a variety of colors
from black to reddish brown, orange, and red. This is chalcedony quartz. In
ancient times it was used as a talisman of protection against evil and harm.
Pieces of sardonyx were placed above doors and windows and in all four corners
of the house as a grid of protection. Finding red sardonyx in large pieces was
rare and hence the precious gem aspect. In fact, there is a sardonyx chalice in
the National
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| Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II |
In Roman times soldiers carried sardonyx and their pieces
were often lavishly carved with gods, goddesses, emperors, and heroes such as Aries and Hercules, to
make them fearless in war and
protect them from harm. Some were carved from other
less expensive colors of onyx.
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| Goddess Minerva-Roman Times |
(Drawing of a Roman cameo w/God of War.)
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| Purple Sapphires |
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| Sardonyx |
Today, red sardonyx, like the amethyst, is relatively inexpensive.
I’m thinking if there were time travel either gem would
be a good currency to have with you when traveling to the ancient world. J
