May - Emerald
As ancient as any gem recorded, the magnificent, lush green, precious emerald has been revered for thousands of years.
Emerald is from the mineral family called Beryl. Its name is derived from the Latin word for green, “smaragdus”.
Through Emerald Glasses
Traditionally, the finest emeralds have come from Colombia, where both the Incas and the Aztecs mined rich emerald deposits in the Andes Mountains. In Roman times, emeralds were believed to have a soothing effect on the soul and on the eyes. Legend tells us that Nero, who had bad vision, used a slice of emerald to improve his sight while watching the gladiators in the arena. Rose colored glasses had nothing on these emerald specs.
Evil Be Gone
In the Middle Ages, gem craftsmen were said to rest their eyes by occasionally looking at an emerald and soothsayers used emerald to foresee the future. Among emerald’s other mystical and magical properties is the ability to ward off evil spirits, improve the memory and bring great wealth to the wearer. It was also said to protect one from snakebites, help creativity, and encourage clarity. Emeralds were also a sign of immortality.
Green Giants
Some very large naturally occurring emeralds exist in collections today. The New York Museum of Natural History has the ‘Patricia’ emerald on display, weighing in at 632 carats. Another big beauty, dating back to 1695, the Mogul Emerald from India is over 217 carats.
It is written in the Vedas (Indian holy scriptures) that emeralds bring luck. Lucky are the ladies born in May to have such a precious birthstone.
Tags: Beryl, birthstone, emeralds, gem, mineral, Mogul Emerald, New York Museum of Natural History, Patricia emerald, smaragdus, Vedas