Editorial Review:
Gems have been prized for thousands of years, not only for their beauty and rarity, but also for their supposed mystic and magical qualities. This book, in the tradition of ancient lapidaries, traces the use of gems in religion, medicine, magic, and astrology. Amethyst comes from the anointed body of a Greek maiden. Ruby, whether male or female, can boil water and heal wounds. Turquois protects the rider against a fall from a horse. Amber contains trapped fairies, angels, and the souls of ancestors. These and thousands of other beliefs regarding gems have been collected and chronicled by the author. Myths, legends, and lore gathered from numerous cultures are included for each stone. This reference also includes the gemological characteristics of each stone, a new translation of Jean de Mandevilles fourteenth century Le Lapidaire, and hundreds of quotations regarding precious stones from classic pieces of literature. Gems in Myth Legend and Lore is the most comprehensive lapidary available. A work that continues a tradition of gem literature spanning over two thousand years.
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Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
A cross-culture treasury of legends, and a first-rate addition to mythology and folklore reference shelves. 2007-06-10
Now in a new revised and reformatted edition, Gems in Myth, Legend, and Lore is an in-depth examination of the supposed mystic and magical qualities humanity has attributed to forty-six different gems throughout history. Written by jeweler, gemologist and educator Bruce G. Knuth, Gems in Myth, Legend, and Lore covers writings on gems throughout history, birthstones, literature concerning gems, the entire translated text of Marbode's eleventh century gem treatise, and much more. A cross-culture treasury of legends, and a first-rate addition to mythology and folklore reference shelves.
Gems in Myth, Legend and Lore 2006-09-16
Written by a gemologist/jeweler, Gems in Myth, Magic and Lore, combines minerological information with a comprehensive review of gemstone lore. Knuth begins the book with a succinct, but comprehensive, review of the history of gemstone lore as it coincides with the rise of gemology as a field of scientific study.
The second part of the book details 46 of the most common gemstones. Each gemstone entry includes a large photograph of the stone, minerological information and the gemstone lore. The lore is presented very respectfully with an acknowledgment that we do not know everything and that there are factual bases to many of these beliefs. As a bonus, there are numerous, well referenced footnotes for each of the stones.
In the third part of the book, he includes information that I have not found elsewhere such mythological gems and gems in literature. There is even a compete copy of a famous Lapidarium writen in the Middle Ages. This section also has some very useful and well done charts detailing things like birthstones through the ages and the significance of gemstone shape.
In my work as a jewelry designer, many of my customers ask my advice about which stones they should use for different forms of protection or as an aid to achieve their goals. In order to help them, I began researching gemstone history and lore. I have now read about 15 books on the subject and I have found that many of them offer contradictory explanations and/or information that is too general or too vague to be of much use. For my purposes, Knuth's book has been the most helpful.
Very pleased 2006-08-11
This book was worth every penny. It discussed myths and legends throughout history associated with a great variety of precious and semi-precious gemstones from different cultures. Very easy and interesting to read. The pictures were not as clear as I expected from a library bound book, but it doesn't really distract from the quality of information. The best book that I have found so far on the subject of gemstone lore. If you are gemologist, this is worth including in your library, as it is a welcome deviation from the science that most gemstone books cover.
Gems in Myth, Legend, and Lore 2000-08-16
Fantastic book. Full of gemstone lore that will dazzle, and impress. Great selling tool for anyone in the jewelry or gem trade.
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