Mystical Aquamarine

According to Greek and Roman legend, the aquamarine was worn by sailors to keep them safe and to prevent them from getting seasick. It would keep them safe and prosperous, and would guarantee safe passage across stormy seas.

If a frog was carved into an aquamarine stone (according to Roman legend), it had the power to not only reconcile enemies but to make friends forever. Another Roman legend says that when aquamarine is "….. blessed and worn, it joins in love, and does great things." The aquamarine was also greatly admired by the Sumerians, the Egyptians, and the Hebrews as the symbol of everlasting youth and happiness. And during the early Christian era, there was a custom of associating gemstones with apostles. The aquamarine was associated with St. Thomas because it "imitated the air and sea," and because St. Thomas made long voyages to preach the gospel to lands as far away as India. 

The aquamarine also had medical miracles in it as well….at least according to 12th century beliefs in Europe. In his book "The Vision Concerning Piers and the Plowman" from 1377, William Langland cites the aquamarine as an antidote for poison. Poisoning royalty was common in those days so all of the royals wore aquamarine. The good thing was that it didn't have to be ground into a powder or inhaled or swallowed….simply wearing an aquamarine stone as a pendant around the neck provided protection from being killed by poison.

Fortune tellers of old preferred crystal balls made of aquamarine during the middle ages because it was a far superior fortune telling stone. Folklore tells us that aquamarine brings victory in legal disputes or physical battles and that aquamarine is very effective for curing ailments of the jaws, throat, stomach, liver….and teeth, too.

 Pliny….the ancient philosopher…… said, "the lovely aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid's treasure house, in the depths of a summer sea, has charms not to be denied."