Magical Properties of Jewelry

 

In early societies, people wore jewelry as amulets to protect against bad luck and illness, indicating they thought these amulets possessed protective properties.

 

History of Jewelry’s Meaning

 

The International Gem Society tells a bit about the history of Jewelry in this article. CLICK

From various myths jewelry emerged into symbols thought to give the wearer control over fertility, wealth and love. Jewelry was worn for its magical properties and Stones contributed to the qualities of the jewelry. Even today, we hear the stories about adventures long ago  someone having luck and fortune because of gemstones or jewelry. From <https://www.gemsociety.org/article/myth-magic-and-the-sorcerers-stone/

 

Evidence shows us that the first trinkets to be worn were made from successful hunts. The hunters adorned themselves with mammal and fish bone, horns, and claws. These were probably worn to show one’s hunting skill and to maintain the status among one’s tribe. Later in human evolution jewelry became as symbols of ownership and commitment. Slaves wore bracelets indicating to whom they belonged and women and sometimes men wore rings as a symbol of commitment or to show they were “taken”.

 

Gems & Meaning

As Humans evolved, evidence shows that we began to place value on certain stones. Dating back to as early as 3000 b.c. in what is modern day Iran, archaeologists found mummies with headdresses, necklaces, earrings, rings, crowns, and pins.

 

The ancient Egyptians made bracelets stringing together colored gemstones of amethyst, turquois and Chalcedony. Stones emerged as having value based on their characteristics. Each stone evolved to possess its own meaning.

 

Even today, we find stories that involve amulets, jewelry that are said to provide protective qualities. The silver vest of the elfin princess protected Frodo in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit. This unexpected Journey is a prequel to his Lord of the Rings trilogy, a classic literary work of science fiction. In the story the a ring protects the main character from harm in the many stories that follow as he journeys through Middle Earth to save all.