|
The word "garnet" is believed to have come from the Greek word "granatum,"
or pomegranate seed, because ancient jewelry makers grouped the tiny
gemstones in a cluster that resembled the seed-filled fruit. Deep
red in color, almandine garnet is the most popular gem in the garnet
family. Occasionally deep enough red to appear black, almandine
garnet is sometimes hollowed in order to let light shine through the
stone, highlighting its red color. Garnet displays the greatest
variety of color of any mineral, occurring in every color except
blue. The garnets are actually a group of similar minerals but
differing in chemical composition. They vary in color from pale to
dark tints, including the deep violet-red of the almandine garnet.
Garnet was known
thousands of years before our era and is mentioned in early biblical
writings. Legend holds that Noah hung a large garnet in the ark for
illumination.
The very earliest descriptions of garnet dates to Roman times; Pliny
the Elder described a mineral he referred to as carbuncle (a term
still used today), "a sparkling, glowing, red mineral", that was
probably garnet. Garnet was considered to symbolize faith,
constancy, and truth. It reportedly also gives its wearer guidance
in the night and protection from nightmares. As an amulet, garnet
was favored by travelers.
Garnet was supposed to have strong curative powers. In powder, it
was used as poultice to relieve fever. According to the Egyptians,
it was an antidote for snake bites and food poisoning. It was also
thought to have a special affinity with the blood.
Statues of Isis, the Egyptian nature goddess, often included garnets
in her ceremonial belt, probably representing her blood and her
power.
Garnets were
also used in ancient Asia and the American Southwest as bullets,
because it was said to increase the ferocity of wounds.
Garnets
are hard and they fracture with sharp edges. They are used as abrasives
for fine sanding and polishing of wood, leather, glass, metals, and
plastics, as sandblasting agents, and in nonskid surface coatings.
Garnet is the birthstone for January. |
