Garnet Pendant strung on a 17" 14k gold-filled necklace.
Inspired by Aten/Atun, the Sun God in traditional ancient Egyptian religion. Aten was the original sun god that the more popular sun god Ra was derived from. Aten was more of an aspect of Ra and is depicted as a solar disk terminating in human hands. Aten creates the son in the mother's womb, the seed in men, and has generated all life.
Origin: Africa, Brazil, Czech Republic, India, Sri Lanka, USA
Mohs Hardness Scale: 7 Very durable
Properties: Garnet is a deep red stone that has been used and loved for centuries. Garnet is said to be a stone of love, trust, and devotion.
It revitalizes, purifies, and balances energy, bringing serenity or passion as appropriate. Inspires love and devotion. Garnet balances the sex drive and alleviates emotional disharmony. It activates and strengthens the survival instinct, bringing courage and hope.
Garnet symbolizes a quick return to a separated love, fertility, and feminine life force.
Legend states that Hades gifted a pomegranate to Persephone before she left his domain to ensure a speedy and safe return. When she did return, the fruit transformed into a handful of the red gemstones.
A garnet stone is often gifted to a loved one before they embark on travel. Garnets are commonly believed to aid in the healing of broken bonds of love. Garnets are also known to aid in the treatment of melancholy and depression by acting as a heart and blood stimulant.
Tidbit History: Garnets were used in burial jewelry and carved signet rings to proclaim royalty during the Bronze Age (300 BC). Garnets were one of the most popular gemstones of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, as revealed in the stunning jewelry and sword fittings in the Staffordshire Hoard because they believed the blood-red stone improved their fighting prowess.
In the middle ages, garnet was commonly believed to guard against poison. Royals would often drop a garnet gemstone into a glass of wine to ensure they were not poisoned to death. Garnets were also worn by the Crusaders as an aid to safely find their way home. Eastern European folktales speak of garnets being worn around the neck to guard against night-wandering vampires. And in Victorian times, the gem was used in engagement rings and other women's jewelry, to mark fidelity in love.
