Lore
Introduction
Before science could explain the physical properties of gems, myths & traditions grew up around them. Were considered magical. Many properties were attributed to them – give health, beauty, riches, honour, strength, protection, influence.
Birthstones
| Month | Tradition | Addition |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | |
| February | Amethyst | |
| March | Aquamarine | Bloodstone |
| April | Diamond | |
| May | Emerald | |
| June | Pearl | Alexandrite; Moonstone |
| July | Ruby | |
| August | Sardonyx | Peridot; Spinel |
| September | Sapphire | |
| October | Opal | Tourmaline |
| November | Topaz | Citrine |
| December | Turquoise | Zircon; Tanzanite |
Still of interest today. Where a stone is dedicated to each month and has a special virtue for those born in that month.
Tradition that linked to 12 apostles or 12 stones that formed the breastplate of a Jewish high priest. Other cultures have their own trads. Have the original 12 stones but there are later alterations added through general agreement. List was standardised in 1912 and updated in 1952 and 2002. Additions give greater colour choice eg; spinel added by the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America, as it has a wide colour range.
Medicine
Since antiquity gems used as medicine. Scholars argue that man reason for wearing gems could have been for health not beauty.
Aristotle thought emerald hung from the nek would prevent sickness; 17th century emerald taken internally for epilepsy, dysentery, snake & scorpion bite, fever.
Ruby thought to preserve health of owner; Carnelian, worn as a ring or ingested, to prevent nosebleeds.
Example of 1540-1560 pendant, open at the back to wear against skin, with inscription to ward off epilepsy. Renaissance pendants often used as amulets for protection.
Pharmacopeia from 16th & 17th centuries talks of gems. Some truth eg: calamine lotion is of same ingredients as mineral zincite (is faceted as a collector gemstone).
What started as a description of gem properties by Greek or Roman were mistranslated by Medieval copyists. Roman Pliny wrote peridot was soft enough to be scratched by a file. Miscopied to become ‘keeps you from lunacy’. Linam (Latin for file) became lunam meaning moon and root of word lunacy. If stone was ‘touched by moon’ then deflects lunacy from wearer.
Most modern claims of medicinal use have no clear empirical data.
