Gems and Superstitions

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Miscellaneous Stones

Various stones are reviewed in this section that did not fit neatly in any of the previous groupings. In most instances, there were not enough other stones available to make these into their own color groups, but there are also instances where the color of the material was not specified or the stone regularly has multiple colors at once, and thus could not be classified under any single color.

Coral

Coral was in great demand by travelers on ships because it was believed to have positive effects. When attached to the prow of a ship, coral was thought to guard against heavy winds and damaging waves. It was said to have the ability to calm storms and allow ships to cross large waterways in safety. Outside of its uses for water faring people, it was said to stop the flow of blood, cure madness and give wisdom to its wearer. Red coral was usually preferred over white coral for many of these uses, but in some instances no color is specified.

Agate

Agates were said to make people agreeable, persuasive, and give them the favor of God. They were also said to give victory and strength as well as the ability to avert tempests and lightning. The agate was supposed to guard its wearer from all dangers and ensure pleasant dreams.

Amethyst

Amethyst was believed to cure drunkenness, control evil thoughts, quicken intelligence, and help prevent harm to soldiers and hunters.

Beryl

In the case of beryl, these superstitions do not mention a specific color or variety of the stone (though many of these superstitions are similar to varieties of beryl already covered) and thus are left as they are here instead of me making assumptions one way or another about which stone is being referred to.

When worn, beryl was said to be helpful in allowing its wearer be victorious in battle, especially in litigation. It made its wearer more amicable, quickened intellect, and banished laziness.

Many of the medicinal uses of beryl seem to be found in other stones as well. One of the more unique uses though involved beryl being rubbed up against swollen neck glands to remove the swelling. Another unique use of beryl (for admittedly a less important medicinal function) was the cure of hiccups. To accomplish this, a beryl was left in water for some time and then removed and the water was drunk. Another medicinal use for beryl is similar to some uses that we have seen for other stones. In this case, the beryl was to be ground up and put into a paste to be rubbed on the eyes. This was said to cause much pain, but would heal the eyes quicker, and bring back a significant amount of sight (though it did not promise to make the blind see again).

Bloodstone

As its name implies, bloodstones were used to stop bleeding. This stone was also a favorite among early Christians because the red spots on the stone were though to be the blood of Christ. Bloodstones were thought to cause the sun itself to turn red, and to cause thunder, lightning, and large storms. Bloodstones were thought to bring its wearer respect and guard him from deception.

Hematite

Hematite was said to aid people in legal pursuits, especially when it came to petitioning to a king or when it came to a judgment or lawsuit in court.

"The curative properties of the hematite were generally recognized by the early writers, and in this case they were not so much at fault, as this substance possesses considerable astringent properties. Galen recommends its use for inflamed eyelids, following in this the teachings of the Egyptian schools of medicine" (JJKent Inc).

Jet

Jet was an oddity in gemological medicine practice, in that in almost all of its uses, the jet had to be burned and release its fumes to have any positive medicinal effect. According to Pliny, jet fumes could cure hysteria and reveal a latent tendency to epilepsy in people. Eventually these ideas would soon be misunderstood to the point where it was thought jet fumes could also test for virginity in a woman. "The fumes of jet are mentioned as a remedy for the pest in one of the earliest Greek medical treatises, written by Nicander, who flourished in the second century B.C. He declares that the most virulent pestilence could be driven away if the bedrooms were fumigated with the smoke of the slow-burning jet. The plague was called the black plague and naturally the aid of a black substance was sought to cure it" (JJKent Inc).

Pearl

While many of us today would consider ourselves lucky to find a pearl, it was not so in the case of the natives of the Sulu Archipelago. It was believed that if a man found a nautilus pearl and was in possession of it while in a fight, he would inevitably be killed in the fight. For this reason, whenever a nautilus pearl was found it was immediately thrown back into the sea.

Jacinth

The jacinth was a favorite stone of travelers, especially during the time of the black plague. Jacinth was said to protect its wearer from the black plague as well as grow pale if its wearer or someone in the area had become afflicted with the plague. Its other main use was to ward against lightning, as it was said that no one wearing jacinth or in possession of a wax seal stamped by a jacinth was ever struck by lightning. Another power attributed to this stone was the ability to allow its wearer to fall asleep.

Moonstone

The moonstone is believed to bring good fortune in India. It is also believed to bring about passion between lovers, and allow said lovers to read into their futures.

Onyx

The onyx was believed to be the opposite of the moonstone in India, where it was used to cool passionate thoughts, and sparked fights between lovers.