2. The birthstones for August are Peridot and
Sardonyx.
The name peridot is believed to come from the
Latin word ‘paederot,’ which means ‘a kind of opal’
but it is not certain. Some believe it came from the
Arabic word ‘faridat,’ which means ‘gem.’
Sardonyx measures 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale of
hardness and gets its name from the Latin word
‘onyx’ and the Greek ‘ovue’ which means ‘claw’ or
‘fingernail’ the flesh like colour of the reddish
bands in the stone are said to resemble a fingernail.
In fact, one Greek myth states the stone was
thought to encourage the growth of fingernails.
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
3.
Peridot is mined in:
Egypt
Parts of the United States
Australia
Brazil
China
Kenya
Mexico
Burma
Norway
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
4. About Peridot
Peridot is a gem-quality silicate mineral
called olivine.
Peridot comes in colours ranging from:
Yellow to yellow-green
Olive-green to brownish shades
Lime-green to emerald-green
Peridot measures 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs
scale of hardness.
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
5. In Ancient Egypt
Peridot was considered a spiritual stone where
priests would concoct a drink from the crushed
stone and drink it during ceremonies.
Cleopatra was said to be fond of the gem.
In Ancient Hawaiian
Legend states the gem is actually the hardened
tears of Pele, the Goddess associated with
fire, lightning and volcanoes.
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
6. In Classical times
Sardonyx was worn by lawyers, as it was
believed that it made them more eloquent.
Other magic powers include:
Self-control.
Success in business matters that involved
legal issues.
Good fortune was another of the many
benefits available.
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
7.
Folklore Points to the Peridot
Could protect against nightmares.
Bring power.
Influence.
A prosperous year to the wearer.
Sardonyx is known as the stone of strength
and protection.
It was believed to enhance willpower,
integrity, stamina and vigor.
It was also thought to bring lasting
happiness and stability to marriage and
partnerships.
Friends and good fortune were also
attracted because of the stone.
One would also be protected from infections
and poisonous bites or stings.
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
8. About Sardonyx
Sardonyx is a form of onyx popular with
ancient Greeks and Romans who carried
sardonyx engraved images of Mars and
Hercules on talismans believing they would
bring courage and victory.
It is a blend of sard and onyx and is also
known as sardian onyx.
Onyx is variety of chalcedony, which is
banded. Colour bands can be in just about
any colour where sardonyx is a variant
where the bands contain shades of red
rather than black.
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
9. Sardonyx are mined in a number of regions
including:
Brazil
Uruguay
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
India
Hawaii
Madagascar
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
10.
If you dream of sardonyx it is believed to
signify the love of many friends.
As sardonyx is considered a defensive
stone, it was said to be effective in
removing feelings of sorrow and sadness.
To this day some people use sardonyx to
ward off crime and misfortune in their
homes by placing it at each corner of a
home as well as at doors and windows to
create a grid of protection.
Created by: www.birthstonebrilliance.com
