Turquoise
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About the Piece Turquoise is part of the Gem Fae series. Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral. It is rare and very valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem, and an ornamental stone for thousands of years due to its very unique hues. In recent times turquoise, like most other opaque gems, has been devalued by the introduction of color treatments to produce fakes, and synthetics onto the market.
A Bit About Turquoise
According to Persian legend, turquoise is made of bones of those who died of unhappy love. It is a stone of happiness. Turquoise may be young (whiteish), mature (blue) and old (green). In the regions with high level of pollution Turquoise very quickly becomes old changing the color to green. According to Aztecs, Turquoise stones are "tears of goddess of the Skies", a symbol of health, prosperity and love. Light blue Turquoise is a symbol of spirituality. Almost all ancient civilizations associated Turquoise with goddesses of love: in ancient Egypt - Isis, in ancient Greece - Aphrodite, in ancient Rome - Venus. Astrologists link Turquoise to Jupiter and Venus.Turquoise is also sacred stone to many American Indian tribes. The Navajo used ground turquoise and coral in creating sand paintings to bring rain to the parched land. Other native inhabitants of the South-western United States and Mexico placed turquoise in tombs to guard the dead.
The Pueblos laid turquoise under the floor in offering to the deities, when a house, or kiva, was built. A piece of turquoise was a nearly required tool in the Apache shaman's medicine, or power bag. Other American peoples attached turquoise to bows to ensure accurate shots.
