OTHER PRECIOUS STONES
emeralds,
and watched the fights of gladiators through them. Pliny mentions a
statue of a lion with emerald eyes which was set over the grave of
Hermione on the shore of Cyprus. Many large emeralds are owned by
monarchs in Europe and Asia, but as the value of the emerald does not
increase as the square of its weight like the diamond, they are not as
famous as the large diamonds.
The
green color embodied in the emerald invariably calls to mind the
verdure of spring; the budding of life; victory over the cold of
winter; faith in the fruition of plenty which comes with summer.
Emeralds
were the favorite gems of Cleopatra. They were the embodiment of
royalty for what was probably the most gem-bedecked queen of all time.
Many of the green stones such as chrysoprase were often called,
"victory stones" by the old writers. Such a gem is reputed to have been
worn by Alexander the Great in his girdle.
The
ruby, when it is fine and large and of the right color, is one of the
most valuable of all stones, nearly as valuable as diamonds. To be
first-class a ruby must be of the color of blood—bright, sharp red.
More than half of the rubies of commerce are inferior semi-precious
stones called spinels.
According
to a Hindu folk-tale that recounts the birth legend of the ruby, this
fiery stone was once a diamond. Its color was changed to red by the
lifeblood of a Maharanee slain in anger, disappointment and envy. The
stone was subsequently placed as the red glowing eye in the image of
Siva, the destroyer.
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