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In history both these gems are of great interest. Rubies are mentioned in the Bible in the Proverbs and in the Book of Job. The Greeks and Romans ascribe to the ruby the power of emitting light in darkness; the Hindus describe the abodes of their gods as being lighted with rubies.
Sapphires were also known in ancient times, which is attested by the fact that the word sapphire is nearly the same in all languages.
The gem was believed to be a destroyer of poison and a powerful charm, protecting the wearer from fever.
Dr. O. C. Farrington states that "Burton, the African traveler, is said always to have carried a star sapphire about with him as a means of gaining respect from the barbarous peoples among whom he journeyed. The savages believed that the stone must be a talisman of great power and feared to incur the owner's enmity." |
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Precious Stones Guide Vol 3
>> About Rubies and Sapphires in History
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