Emeralds have dazzled everyone from ancient emperors to modern jewelry lovers, especially people born in May, who can claim the green gem as their birthstone.
The shade of an emerald is so vivid that Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder declared, “nothing greens greener.” According to the Gemological Institute of America, Pliny believed the stone could refresh tired eyes.
In ancient times, people credited emeralds with powers straight out of a fantasy novel. Some believed the gem could soothe the mind, cure fevers and even help its owner see the future. Others thought emeralds could defeat snakes by blinding them.
The first known emerald mines were in Egypt, dating to at least 330 B.C., and Cleopatra famously adored the gem, both for her own adornment and for gifting to visiting dignitaries. In the Americas, the Incas and Aztecs treasured emeralds long before Europeans arrived, weaving them into ceremonies and royal regalia.
Emeralds are a variety of beryl, formed deep underground when beryllium, aluminum, silicon and oxygen meet under the right conditions. Their signature green comes from trace amounts of chromium or vanadium.
Many places, both real and mythical, have been named after the stone, from the Emerald Coast (a stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast known for its green waters) to the Emerald City in “The Wizard of Oz.” And, of course, Ireland is often referred to as the Emerald Isle.