Onyx - symbolism of the stone
Onyx is a stone with parallel layers of different colors, usually white, black or dark gray. In Arabic "Onyx" means pain and sorrow. The layers of color of onyx can be: black and white, red and white, brown and white, gray and white, and various shades of gray (this type of stone is very rare). As ornamental and decorative stone, onyx was known in Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. In Rome it was used for inlays and mosaics. According to legend, in the temple of Jerusalem, the wall of Solomon had the windows that penetrated enough light, because they were made of this stone. The mausoleum of Gur-Emir in Samarkand is made of this stone.
In ancient times in Babylon and Egypt, onyx was used mainly as a building material and coating. And in Rome, it was used to make mosaics.
A large chalice (the communion cup), carved with onyx, is kept in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Moscow and had been brought from Rome to Novgorod in 1106 by Ivan Terrible when he conquered Novgorod. In the Middle Ages it was believed that onyx had contradictory properties: it was considered an unlucky stone that inspired terrible dreams, but at the same time, onyx facilitated the delivery, and encouraged the owner to undertake enterprises by increasing revenue. According to the Georgian manuscript of the tenth century, the onyx should be owned only by a man of pure heart and without sin in thought. Biruni, exploring the properties of onyx had written: China believes that wearing onyx brings many concerns, if the children hang it around their necks they begin to drool, and if they drink in cups made of onyx they suffer from insomnia. This message, however, is not credible.
If it had been like that, the Arabs would not have honored the onyx, and they would not have dedicated poems, in which they compared beautiful women with onyx.
In the Middle Ages the unfavorable characteristics of onyx were carrying terrible dreams about ghosts and dark visions, and brought trouble to its owner, involving them in the dispute and struggle, and in addition also caused drooling in children. In the sixteenth century Gerolamo Cardano said that in India to wear an onyx necklet means to cool the ardor of charity. This coincided with the concept that onyx as a stone separates the lovers. Indian astrologers believe that onyx is not useful to anyone, because it concentrates bioenergy and attracts disease. According to Eliphas Levi, onyx is considered to be very useful: it soothes the pain of inflamed body parts from the tumor.
Onyx talisman has medical characteristics. It should be placed in the area of the body where you feel pain, so the stone eliminates it. For example, during colic, onyx linked to stomach relaxes. According to beliefs Onyx improves human memory and hearing; onyx rimmed in silver cures insomnia and heart disease.
Onyx gives its owner the gift of eloquence, and shaded black onyx creates the entrepreneurial spirit and drives to the enrichment of its owner.
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