MAY: Emerald Month

Image courtesy of Boykung / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The emerald is a gemstone for the month of May.  Quite a lot of interesting trivia revolve around this precious stone.  Here is an interesting read about the emerald: http://www.gia.edu/emerald-history-lore  

I read that article that may answer all these questions:

• Since antiquity, what has the lush green emerald done to souls and imagination?

• What is the ancient Greek word for green?

• In his Natural History, who described the emerald as: “have no better method of restoring their eyes by looking at the emerald, its soft, green color comforting and removing their weariness and lassitude”?

• What two things are the color green known to relieve?

• Since the emerald is the one always associated with lushest landscapes and richest greens, what does Ireland, Seattle of the USA, and Thailand have in reference to the color emerald? (Hint: "Emerald _____")

• Where were the first known emerald mines were from at least 330 BC into the 1700’s?

• How did Cleopatra use emeralds?

• Where do 16th century Spanish explorers --who invaded the New World-- plunder the emeralds?

• What did the Spanish trade emeralds for?

• The Spanish trades opened the eyes of the royalty to the emerald’s majesty.  From which two continents were the royalty from?

• What gemstone family is the emerald from?

• According to legends, how does the wearer of the emerald become endowed with the ability to see the future?

• What else was believed of the emerald to reveal to the wearer?

• What was believed of the emerald to protect the wearer from?

• What two diseases were believed of the emerald to cure?

• What was believed when a speaker wears the emerald?

• According to a legend, to whom did God entrust four precious stones-- in which the emerald was one of the four gems?  What power did these gemstones endow the recipient?

• What does the color of the emerald reflect which makes it the perfect of birthstone for the month of May?

• Which two wedding anniversaries are assigned to the emerald?

Clueless?  To answer these questions, this article may help.

CHEERS TO A GREAT GREEN MERRY MONTH OF MAY!

:-( -> :-| -> :-)

DL
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"Compassion crowns the soul with its truest victory."
--Aberjhani, "The River of Winged Dreams"