Blurs

Long before modern gemologists identified its chemical composition, a distinctive yellowish-green gemstone was being extracted from a remote island in the Red Sea, transported across ancient trade routes and treasured in the world of the Egyptian pharaohs. Today, the stone is known as peridot, the transparent gemstone variety of the mineral olivine. Its distinctive colour ranges from yellowish green to a deeper olive green, depending largely on its iron content. Peridot occupies a particularly interesting place in the history of ancient Egyptian gemstones.  Its story combines mineral wealth, royal patronage, dangerous sea voyages and enduring legends about the relationship between precious stones and supernatural protection. The gemstone is often associated with the phrase the gem of the sun, a description reflecting its luminous appearance and traditional associations with light.  However, separating established historical evidence from later folklore is essential when invest...