A young Roman wife receives a sapphire birthstone from her husband, who is about to leave on a journey.
The sapphire, he believes, will help her remain devoted to him while he is gone.
An English prince who is afflicted with a severe stomachache has a servant who chants while holding an aquamarine birthstone over him, hoping that his words will heal the prince.
A warrior from India places a ruby inside a pouch worn next to his skin. He is hoping the ruby will give him the most protection when he’s in battle.
At one time or another and in one culture or another, birthstones have played important roles in the development of a nation’s folklore and myth.
Here is more information about birthstones and their meanings according to the months from June to October.
Birthstone By Month
The Birthstone For June Is Pearl
Ancient civilizations had many stories to explain the origin of this valuable gemstone, such as the Greek belief that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the goddess of love shook from her eyes when she was born from the sea.
The Chinese thought these came from the brains of dragons, while the Arabs believed that pearls were formed when oysters were lured from the sea by the moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops. These stones have been used in many ways over the centuries.
Once upon a time they were ground up and used as a medicine to treat stomach ailments. Some people believe pearls to be an aphrodisiac.
The Birthstone Of July Is Ruby
This is one of the most prized gems of all. The ancient Hindus called it ‘rajnapura,’ or king of gems. A ruby in the hands of its rightful owner was said to get darker when danger was near and then return to normal when the threat has passed.
Rubies were thought to be powerful weapons. Ancient tribes used them as bullets for blowguns. Ground into a powder and placed on the tongue, rubies were thought to heal indigestion.
The Birthstone Of August
The birthstone for August is Peridot and this gem is formed from volcanic activity. In ancient Egyptian society, a beverage called soma was drunk from cups made from Peridot in order to bring people closer to Isis, the goddess of nature.
It was believed that this gem glowed with light even as darkness came, which explains why miners scouted for these gems during the night, marking their locations, then returned in the morning to collect them.
This may be why the Peridot is called evening emerald.
The Birthstone For September Is The Blue Sapphire
Named after the Greek word ‘sapphirus,’ meaning blue, this birthstone has for a long time been a favorite of kings, priests and other noble figures as a symbol of purity and wisdom.
They were also thought to provide ample protection against envy and poisoning. Ground into a powder, sapphires were believed to relieve colic, rheumatism and improve eyesight.
The Birthstone For October Is Opal
This birthstone was prized for its unique ability to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light, the opal was called ‘cupid paederos’ by the Romans, which means a child as beautiful as love. They were worn in necklaces to ward off evil and protect the eyesight.
They were also believed to ward off nightmares.
The opal dates back to prehistoric times. It’s a non-crystallized silica, which is a mineral found near the surface of the earth where geothermal hot springs once existed.
You might also read our first post on Birthstones and their Meanings
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