Turquoise

The name turquoise is apparently related to the fact that is was brought to Europe from the Eastern Mediterranean by Levantine traders, more commonly known as Turks.  Its been used as a valuable ornament for ages and was used by the Egyptians thousands of years ago. The color is, of course, turquoise, but its range of color varies from green and greenish blue to sky blue shades.

The color

Turquoise has a waxy luster and is a phosphate of aluminum with copper and traces of iron. Depending on its origin, the stone can be sky blue to green depending on the amount of copper (which makes it blue) and iron (which makes it green).

A Little History

The ancient Egyptians believed it had mystical powers and used it in art, figures, and ornaments such as Queen Zar’s jewelry (5500 B.C). The earliest known use of turquoise and the first mines on the Sinai occurred during this civilization. Turquoise has long been associated with gods and goddesses in cultures spanning the globe in ancient Egypt, Persia, China and the Americas. To the Egyptians, the stone was seen as a symbol of rebirth. The Sun God Ra's hair was said to be made from the stone.

Turquoise is sacred to many Native American's and was carved in the shape of animals and birds. These carvings were placed in the Indians tombs to attract beneficial spirits and to guard the dead. Turquoise was also used by medicine men for healing and by warriors who fixed turquoise to the end of their bows to insure accurate shots. Many North American Indian tribes viewed the stone as a male stone of power and the Apaches believed that it could be found in the damp ground at the end of the rainbow.

The Aztecs offered a death skull inlaid with turquoise to their serpent god of the sun, Quetztalcoatl.

Methaphysical & Healing Powers

Turquoise is said to attract money, prosperity and success, to have the power to influence creative powers, and to enhance the ability to communicate. The stone has long been prized as a powerful talisman with healing properties. It is said that turquoise can help balance the throat chakra (the blue chakra), increasing resistance to viruses and helping to relieve sore throats, lung infections and the affects of allergies.