11 Fascinating Things You Never Knew About Agate Gemstones
Agate is a gemstone that has been around for a while. In fact, the name was given to the stone by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist who found it on the shores of the River Achates back somewhere in the 4th or 3rd century BC. In fact, the stone has been known around the area for over 3,000 years. Here are 11 more fascinating things you never knew about agate gemstones.
1. Agate is a type of quartz
Agate is a type of quartz and is mostly found in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas and is naturally banded and multicoloured. Often the stones have tiny quartz crystals in them that make the stones even more unique and special – these are known as drusy or druzy.
2. It is a birthstone for September and for Gemini
Agate has a lot of associations during the course of the year. It is the birthstone for September and is the stone associated with the Western zodiac sign Gemini. It is also the birthstone for May in the Ayurvedic, Hebrew and Roman birthstone systems as well as being associated with June in the Arabic calendar and Libra in the Talismanic system.
3. Associated with 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries
It is associated with the 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries. The traditional gift for the 12th is silk but agate along with linen, pearl, jade and opal are alternatives. Ivory was the traditional gift for the 14th (with imitation ivory now replacing this for obvious reasons) alongside agate, opal and bloodstone gifts.
4. Helps the wearer discern truth and accept circumstances
According to folklore, wearing agate could help someone discern the truth as well as accept their circumstances. It is a powerful emotional healer than also improves memory and concentration. It has extra benefits for those Gemini people, helping them stay calm and focused.
5. Different coloured agates have different names
Different coloured agates have their own name, often taken from the location where they are found. So there are Montana agate, Mexican Lace agate, Botswana agate and Graveyard Point agate. Others get their names from their appearance – moss agate looks like it has moss inside it while Blue Lace agate has a delicate lacy pattern and a pale blue shade.
6. It is found around the world
As the different names show, agate is found around the world. Some of the top places to find it include Brazil, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Nepal and parts of the USA.
7. Agate has been used in jewellery for a long time
While the name agate dates from the Greek era, the use of agates in jewellery is much older. It was also a popular stone to use in hardstone carving and examples have been found in Knossos in Crete from the Bronze Age Minoan culture, dating back to 2600BC. There is also evidence that Stone Age men knew agate and used it to make jewellery.
8. Persians used it to ward off storms
The Persians had their own beliefs about agates – they were great for preventing storms. They also helped save the wearer from thirst, so they were a protective stone and therefore valued.
9. Agate bowls were very valuable, and royalty used them
As well as for jewellery, agate has also been popular to make into bowls and these bowls were very valuable. Midtirades, the kind of Pontus, had three thousand of them made. And the royal families across Europe often collected them with many museums now having impressive collections donated from the families over time.
10. They were used for seals and special rings with symbolic carvings
In Ancient Sumeria, agates were used for two main purposes – to create beads to wear in jewellery and to make seals. These were important for official documents and each was unique to the person holding it.
11. In Feng Shui agate is used for balancing and healing
In Feng Shui, agate is associated with the water element and also has something of the translucency of air as well. The blue agate, in particular, is used in this system and are considered one of the most healing of all the blue stones. It is also protective and a warding stone that is used in bracelet.
If you are using them around your home, then blue agates should be placed in the East bagua area for health and south-east for wealth. Red or fire agates should be placed in the southwest bagua for love and marriage.
One false belief is that wind chimes made from artificially colour agate slices make good Feng Shui – this isn’t the case. So if you love them, consider them as beads in jewellery rather than for your home.
