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Amber is a translucent to opaque yellow, golden or orange material,
usually warm to the touch, much lighter than one would expect of a
gemstone. It's not a gemstone in the truest sense--rather it's
fossilized resin from trees common about 50 million years ago. It's
sometimes called "electrum" as Amber produces static
electricity when rubbed. Amber gets its name from the Greek
"Ambrosia".
Mystical Properties: Its beautiful, warm color, and the ease with
which it can be worked has made it popular since the Stone Ages.
To the Norse, Amber was the golden tears of the Goddess Freya that fell
into the sea and solidified. Others believe Amber to be the tears of
Heliads grieving for her dead brother Phaethon, who had fallen into the
River Eridanos. The sun is said to have hardened the tears into Amber.
Polish legends ascribe Amber to human tears from the forty-days rain.
A Kashubian legend says Amber was created from very loud lightning
storms.
Homer mentions Amber in his writings, attributing great desirability and
value to the golden gems.
To the ancient Greeks, Amber came from the apples of immortality (hence
the name, Amber from the Greek "ambrotos", meaning
"ambrosia"). From this legend, amber was believed to instill
protection to it's wearer and increase longevity. The Romans picked up
on this, believing Amber a first rate protector, so much so, the Roman
Gladiators adorned their shields and weapons with it. In Christianity,
Amber is thought to be tears shed by birds at Christ's death. Ancient
Germans called Amber "bernstein", meaning "burning
stone". When burned, it will still give off a pine scent (50
million years later!), and so was used as an incense.
Amber is the gem of Germany, Romania, and Sicily and those of Germanic,
Romanian and Sicilian descent.
Said to favor those named Ambrose and Anne.
Dreaming of amber is said to indicate an upcoming voyage.
Healing Properties: Most commonly Amber is said to help with sore
throats, swollen glands, and fevers likely because of it's ability to
hold heat.
Scientific Properties: Amber is not a true crystalline mineral,
rather it is of organic origin, being the fossilized resin of pine trees
common about 40-50 millions years old.
The most extensive deposits of Baltic Amber are found in the blue muds
of the Sambian Peninsula and by the Bay of Gdansk.
Found all over the world, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and
Borneo, but the most valued Amber usually comes from the Baltic region.
It has pyroelectric properties (i.e. rub it and produces electricity).
Hardness: 4 on the Moh's Hardness Scale
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