A stone that is always in fashion
In the “Svyatoslav's Collection” this gem is called “ chrysolif ”.
Biruni reports that “Omar ibn al-Khattab, one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad, hung in the Kaaba two crescents made of stones that had no price and inlaid with ... excellent chrysolite (zabarjad).”
The Crusaders brought home golden-green crystals from Palestine. This is how the gem gained popularity in Europe.
Expert opinion
Semenishcheva Polina
Specialist in mineralogy. Graduated from St. Petersburg Mining University.
Interesting : G. Bank writes that “many of the “emeralds” found in the treasuries of European cathedrals are probably actually peridots - chrysolites.”
These crystals have never left the “TOP gems”. It could be more or less popular, but it was always worn. It is not for nothing that the olive green crystal adorns the Great Crown of the Russian emperors.
Reading the Bible...
Every cultured person (or who considers himself such) should read the Bible at least once. A book with consistently the largest circulation in the world deserves it.
And in the Bible there is a description of the High Priest's confidant. Many “stone” sites write about this confidant. And no wonder, this bag (what did you think?) was decorated with 12 precious stones in 4 rows.
Bible stones, High Priest's breastplate
Our gem is here in the fourth row. But not everywhere. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament).
In the original version, chrysolite, as expected, is in the fourth row.
But with numerous translations (remember the children's game “Deaf Telephone”?), the stones inexplicably change their names.
