Hematite's role in history, culture and religion.
This section of JewelrySupplier.com is intended to uncover references in history to gems, gemstones, minerals, crystals, precious metals and semi-precious stones and to investigate the role they played in the development of the cultures in which they were utilized. We believe examples of royal jewelry and ancient jewelry from anthropology, sociology and archaeology from the ancient societies of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and especially the work of Pre-Columbian American cultures of the North American Indians, Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans to be of craftsmanship that has not been equaled since. Where possible in our history of jewelry, we’ve tried to include methods of manufacture, materials and technology. From the bible, commerce, celestial beliefs to modern crystal collecting.
Determining the date when Hematite use began would be difficult but it has probably been used since the earliest days of human civilization. The ancient Egyptians used Hematite in the creation of their magical amulets such as the carpenter stone and head rest amulets and several heart amulets. Some of these amulets were treatments for madness and inflammation. The Greek word haima, which means blood, is the root of Hematite’s name and originates from the stone’s dark red streak. Hematite relates to the Mars, the Roman God of War. The Romans glorified Mars more than the Greeks did, who loathed him and knew him as Ares. Warriors in Roman times used Hematite as protection during battle. So strong was their belief in the power of Hematite to protect them that they thought it could even make them invincible. Red Ochre is a paint that originated in Native American cultures, who used it as a face paint.
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