Birthstone gems of ancient Egypt
The culture of ancient Egypt has fascinated people for centuries. Gemstones have been an integral part of that long gone empire and the impact of Egyptian beliefs on birthstone virtues has been significant.
The absolute majority of birthstones by month lists are based on rocks mounted into Aaron’s breastplate. Interpreting gems of the high priest breastplate relies heavily on ancient Egyptian writings and beliefs, and also on the Egyptian ‘Book of the Dead’.
In early Egyptian folklore heavens were made of gemstones. Hathor was the primeval goddess from whom all others were derived, and she also was the lady of turquoise. Osiris, the god of the underworld, and Isis, who was associated with Hathor, were carved from precious stones and hung on the breastplate of the Egyptian high priest symbolizing truth and justice.
Golden Emerald ring in a shape of a scarab beetle
One of the most popular Egyptian symbols was a large beetle scarabaeus also called the scarab. It was also one of the most respected charms that was worn by soldiers, people of power, and just regular people, and was made out of many different gemstones and materials like beryl, gold, amethyst, jasper, carnelian, lapis lazuli, turquoise, and so on. Scarabs symbolized the never-ending return of the sun after the night end, and it was said that Egyptian god Ra impressed the matter from which scarabs are made giving it a life that could not be destroyed. The scarabs had 30 toes and Egyptians believed that it represented the days of the month, and they also believed the time it took the beetle to deposit its ball was equal to lunar month.
Amethyst was carved into scarab shape and worn by soldiers as a charm against death in battle. According to Pliny, philosopher and military chief of the Roman empire, amethyst engraved with the symbol of the sun or the moon was accepted as one of the most powerful jewels.
Ancient Egyptian bangle decorated with lapis lazuli gemstones
Egyptian priests wore images made out of lapis lazuli which was accepted as a symbol of heavens. Diamond was thought to bring good fortune. Emerald was believed to possess talismanic powers to ward off evil.
Red Sea pearl foraging was controlled and owned by the rulers of Egypt. The famous pearls of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, were most likely sourced from the Red Sea. Many of you may have also heard about ‘Cleopatra Mines’ where emeralds were mined. Topaz and Peridot were also collected in that area, in particular in ‘Serpent Island’. According to the legend, the island was heavily guarded to prevent unauthorized visitors, and gem prospecting there was a monopoly of the Egyptian royals.
Many historical figures cherished jewels from Egypt. For example, French emperor Napoleon jealously guarded carnelian he found during his Egyptian campaign. Nowadays you can see the treasures of the lost Egyptian empire in the museums around the world like the Smithsonian and the British Museum.
