Birthstone Lore
Most experts are unable to agree on where stones were adopted from or initially began to be used for any given month. There are historians that think that this practice originally began over 4500 years ago with Sumerians or Egyptians that carried stones as amulets. They did this after a consultation with astrologers who acquired magical powers that were associated with certain stones. The time of an individual’s birth and the relationship to the properties and movement assigned to planets is what determined the color stone that should be worn to protect against sickness and suffering. The stones were also thought to have magical abilities that would attract good fortune.
The Western birthstone system probably originated out of the writings of two early authors. They were Josephus (writing in the first century AD) and St. Jerome (writing during the fifth century AD). Both of them trace the custom of wearing certain types of gems to the stones that stood for the 12 tribes of Israel. They also made a connection between the 12 zodiac signs and the 12 months in the year that were shown an the Breastplate of the Hebrew High Priest’s. The breastplate was originally said to be worn by Aaron, the brother of Moses (as referred to in Exodus 28:15-20).
One example of the stones mentioned in this system follows:
+ Stone 1 – Aries was represented by Carnelian
+ Stone 2 – Taurus has been symbolized using Peridot
+ Stone 3 – Gemini was regarded to use Emerald
+ Stone 4 – Cancer was demonstrated by Ruby
+ Stone 5 – Leo used the gemstone Lapis Lazuli
+ Stone 6 – Virgo has been associated with Onyx
+ Stone 7 – Libra used beautiful Sapphire
+ Stone 8 – Scorpio was represented by