What Is the Significance & Meaning of Emeralds?

Meaning of Name

• According to International Colored Gemstone Association (ICGA), the color green--and thus, the emerald--symbolized the love goddess Venus for the ancient Romans. In modern times, emeralds are the birthstone for May and the designated gemstone for 20th and 35th wedding anniversary gifts.

History

• The Egyptian pharaohs were among the first people to prize emeralds. Between 3000 and 1500 B.C., Egyptian royalty extracted all the emeralds from a site near the Red Sea known as Cleopatra's Mines.

Religious Significance

• According to the ICGA, the Incas and Aztecs believed emeralds were holy. The Vedas, ancient sacred texts of Hinduism, contain references to emeralds as lucky and as having healing powers, the ICGA says.

Healing Properties

• Those who believe in the healing powers of crystals claim that emeralds can offer relief from certain ailments. According to "The Healing Power of Gemstones," by Harish Johari, emeralds can aid fevers, coma and organ problems.

Fun Fact

• The Mogul Emerald is one of the world's largest, weighing 217.8 carats. It is engraved on one side with Islamic prayers and with flowers on the other. The gem sold at auction in 2001 for $2.2 million.

Properties

• An emerald is a type of beryl consisting of beryllium, aluminum and silicate. The stones get their green color from trace amounts of chromium and vanadium within the crystals.