[Jewelry making - Article 00607] - Re: [Orchid] Opals are bad luck myth

[charles b buckman]

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    All, Has anyone commented about the work of Allan Eckert and others
    on the history of opal?  Evidently, the bad luck reputation goes
    back to the Middle Ages.  The stone was associated at the time with
    a particular writer.  He called the stone "patronus furnum" meaning
    protector of thieves.  This sprung from the beleief that the stone
    gave a thief lightning speed so as to allow them to perform their
    trade undetected even in broad daylight.   Not much earlier the
    stone had a wonderful reputation, as the Romans valued it over
    almost all other stones, evidently.  I think rightly so, since what
    other gemstone has the beauty of quality opal.  Many other stones in
    a way simply look like glass! 

    The name "Occulus Mundi" or "Eye of the World" was applied to the
    hydrophane varieties.  I think a lot of the bad associations with
    evil with the stone, probably had their root with that medieval
    writing.  That source is quoted in the Eckert book "Opal".  That
    book is very excellent is discussing in painstaking detail opal
    history. 

    Anyway, my two cents. 

Blaine

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