Stones as ancient symbols - what do they mean? Dice. Types of dice - cubes, dice, curses Question: A young woman came to me to find out what positive and negative energies are currently affecting her life

A stone is an ancient symbol of the foundation of a house, a temple, a foundation, a stronghold. One of Christ's apostles is named Peter, which means “stone”.

A symbol of stability, duration, reliability, immortality, inviolability, eternal, cohesion, indestructibility of the Highest Reality.

A mystical repository of vitality. The forces accumulated in the mineral come either from purely divine energy, or from the reincarnated elements of deceased ancestors.

In modern beliefs on the territory of Russia, smooth sea stones with holes are considered to bring happiness, they are called "chicken happiness".

The symbol of blindness, insensitivity, callousness of the soul ("stone heart").

Stones and rocks as an ancient symbol

Stone, rock, mountain, tree or grove - all these concepts are symbolically interconnected and can represent the cosmos in its entirety. Rocks often coexist with trees at sacred sites.

They either stand alone to commemorate some sacred place or event, or are associated with a tree in the structure of a sacred altar, where they symbolize the lasting and surrounding, and the tree is transitory and growing.

In primitive symbolism, stones can beget humans and have parental potency; or people can be turned into sacred stones.

It is assumed that this is a kind of lunar cult associated with both fertility and cold; with the frozen land of winter that breeds spring.

What do stones and rocks symbolize?

Heavy stones or rocks overhanging a source, stream or treasure cave entrance, preventing access to the waters of life flowing from under the rock, symbolize the necessary difficulties or conditions that must be overcome, understood or fulfilled before the waters can be found. life, or esoteric treasures of hidden knowledge.

Sometimes the rock breaks wonderfully to allow the waters to flow or the cave to open.

Stone is an ancient symbol of judgment: stoning is an ancient punishment. To throw a stone at someone is to show contempt. The feeling of one's own guilt is "a stone in the soul."

The stone ax is a non-iconic expression of divinity or its supernatural power. Thunder stones represent the power of thunder, lightning, storm, that is, the power of that which can split and break.

In Christianity, a stone as an ancient symbol is a reliable foundation, indestructibility; Saint Peter is revered as the founder of the Church. The stones are the emblems of Saints Alpezh and Stephen.

Precious black stones - their meaning

Some stones have their own symbolism. For example, jade, precious stones or pearls, black stones (Kaaba, the black stone of Cybele, black jade or pearls) sometimes have the symbolism of the Cosmic Egg, or omphala.

Tall, upright stones or columns symbolize axis mundi (symbols of which are also a tree, a mountain, a tree on a mountain, a column with a tree growing on it) and indicate the supreme support of all that exists in the universe.

They are also omphalos, fixed points of the universe, or centers where one can regain paradise or receive enlightenment.

Conical stones as ancient symbols and stone-built pyramids have the same symbolism as vertically set stones: they all also have phallic semantics.

Cubic stones represent stability and static perfection and, as such, are often laid in the foundations of sacred buildings.

The foundation stone is the rock on which the universe rests; the cornerstone of the earth and the source of the waters of life. Spherical stones mean the moon, and, accordingly, the feminine principle and moon goddesses.

The uncarved stone is the primal matter, the feminine principle, and is associated with masculine symbols, which are the chisel and other tools for stone carving, which give the form and appearance of the primal matter.

Carved or polished stone as an ancient symbol symbolizes character that has undergone refinement and refinement. A broken stone or pillar means death, destruction and dismemberment.

Mystic stone Alatyr

Alatyr (Latyr) - in Russian medieval legends and folklore, a stone, “the father of all stones”, a healing and miraculous “navel of the earth”. In the center of the world, in the middle of the sea-ocean, on Buyan Island, there is that stone.

The world tree grows on it (or there is a throne of world reign).

From under this stone, healing rivers flow around the world. The preference in legends was given to the northern location of Buyan, therefore, most likely Alatyr could be in the Arctic (Hyperborea) or in the Baltic (the old name of the Baltic is the Alatyr Sea).

In conspiracies and fairy tales - "white-combustible stone."

"On the sea, on an okiyan, on an island on Buyan, there is a combustible stone, on that stone sat the Most Holy Theotokos, held a gold needle in her hand, threaded a silk thread, sewed up a bloody wound: you, wound, do not get sick, you, blood, do not run , amen. "
(An old conspiracy against blood.)

In most of the texts Alatyr as an ancient symbol is identified with amber. Since the place of amber mining is the Baltic Sea, it is often called the Alatyr Sea in folklore texts.

Sometimes Alatyr is called the throne on which the girl sits, healing wounds. In spiritual verses, Alatyr is often replaced by an altar (based on external consonance).

Perhaps the source of the story about Alatyr is medieval European legends, which tell about a fantastic stone that cures all diseases.

The stone as an ancient symbol is located in a hard-to-reach place and is the navel of the earth (navels of the earth exist in almost all mythologies of different peoples of the world). Therefore, he is endowed with magical powers and is considered the "father" of all precious stones.

Russian conspiracies also say that Alatyr is "the father of all stones." The plot emphasizes the magical properties of the stone:

On the sea, on the ocean, on the Buyan island, lies the white-combustible stone Alatyr, the father of all stones. On that stone Alatyr sits a red maiden, a seamstress, holds a damask needle, puts in a silk, ore-yellow thread, sews up bloody wounds.

I speak to the servant of God (name) from the cut. Bulat, leave me alone, and you blood, stop flowing.

It is likely that with the assimilation of the sun to a white combustible stone, already in ancient times, the representation of a thundercloud as a rock or a stone merged, the epithet "white-combustible" could indicate, on the one hand, the thunderous flame enclosed within this stone, and on the other, the snow-white and pink colors the bright rays of the spring sun paint the clouds with.

“The trembling nuts from the huge tree make me drunk.
Born by a hurricane, roll along the groove.
Like soma a drink from Mujavat Mountain,
I saw a waking dice. "

Rigveda "Anthem of the Player"

If a person tells you that he has never held dice in his hands, this is most likely not true. It all starts…. since childhood. Each of us had board games, where, in addition to multi-colored chips, a "special cube" was attached, only few people think that these are also dice.

The history of the emergence of dice.

Their history is one of the richest and most interesting among games, and its origins lie in more than deep antiquity, because, according to archaeologists, it is the bones that begin the path of gambling in the world. Dice - lie at the heart of the Game and its philosophy, it is no coincidence that the very word "excitement" comes from the Arabic naming of this game. When the human task was to survive in the harsh conditions of the cave and the lack of mammoths, Pithecanthropus and others like them used the prototypes of dice for magic and fortune telling. So, when you roll the dice during the game, remember that this is an echo of those ancient rituals about calling the gods to help.

Later, when the bones passed into the category of "pleasant pastime", the Greeks, at the suggestion of Sophocles, tried to "appropriate" their invention: talking about the legendary Troy, he mentioned a certain Palamedes, who invented the game during the siege. But even the Greeks could not agree on the discoverer of the "cubes" and Herodotus, in his chronicles about King Atis, told about the Lydians who played this game. During the Crusades, the version about its Palestinian origin was popular. Thanks to the archaeologists who proved that zaras (and this is another name for them) are perhaps one of the oldest game "artifacts" known long before the Greeks and even more so the Romans.

Many scientists have repeatedly tried to prove that our ancestors, living on different continents, communicated with each other, while usually showing photographs of the pyramids of Cambodia, Peru and Tenerife, Indian and Indian art, household utensils of the tribes of the Black Continent and Australia. But few people compare bones. But the Aztecs, the Maya, the Papuans of New Guinea, and the cannibals who lived in Central Africa, and the peoples of the North who lived thousands of years ago, were not alien to passion, and the zarya helped them a lot in this, and they were made of materials, typical for a particular locality, the "dots" (more correctly, the marking) were very different, but the principle was the same - the game and rituals (which is also a kind of game, only for the elite). All over the world, modern Indiana Jones find bones made from seeds of fruits and shells of nuts, from bones, teeth and horns of animals, from stones, and sometimes they are real works of art - the further human civilization developed, the more sophisticated they seemed to become, it seemed would be banal cubes that can tell a lot about the culture of the people who made them: ivory, bronze, precious and semiprecious stones, crystal and amber and even porcelain were used. It is assumed that they were initially ubiquitous due to their cheapness and ease of manufacture, as well as the fact that from one to six it is quite convenient to learn to count.

The Egyptians carved dice methods on stones and the Indians wrote in the Mahabharata 2000 years ago: the legends about Prince Nala and the Pandava brothers tell about the game of Zara, its secrets, losing and winning - this is the most cited of the ancient monuments dedicated to bones.

But much more interesting are several works about the player from the Rigveda, dedicated to the Zaras. In The Gambler's Complaints, where God Savitri instructs: “Don't play dice, but work your harrow! Find pleasure in your property and its prices are high! Look after your cattle and your wife, you worthless gambler. In ancient India, the vibhidaka game was widespread, which is described in the "Anthem of the Player": a lot of bones "a flock of them are frolicking, three times fifty" were thrown out of the vessel, and sometimes they were simply snatched from the heap, and if they could be divided into four, then the player I won; if there were extra dice, I lost.

"After all, the bones are studded with thorns and hooks,
They enslave, they torment, they incinerate,
They donate, like a child, they deprive the winner of victory again ”.
(per. T. Elizarenkova)

The dice game deprived not only money, but also personal freedom, in particular, the ancient Germans, after material bets, could put themselves on the line, in case of loss, becoming the slave of the winner.

And what is characteristic, for some reason, it was the zariks who disliked those in power. Although Julius Caesar was a great admirer of them: his phrase “The die is cast” during the crossing of the Rubicon is directly related to this game, so he was a great admirer of bones, believed in their mystical ability to predict the future, the palm here belongs to the Romans. It was they who published the first known law on gambling, Lex aleatoria (alea (lat.) - dice). And this despite the fact that in Rome the dice were one of the most popular games: Pompey played in them at his triumphs, Juvenal, with the filing of which the law was passed, complained about the too great popularity of dice as a game of too gambling; it was especially fashionable to play them during the Saturnalia. They played odd and even, throwing dice into a hole in the board or a drawn circle. Various combinations of points on the dropped bones bore the names of gods, heroes, heterosexuals (the minimum throw of 4 points was called "dog", the maximum - "Aphrodite"), they were happy and unhappy. This law regulated the conduct of gladiator fights, sporting events, social events and games. Alea was banned not only as a game, but also for storage.

Since Roman law was taken as a basis in medieval Europe, it is not surprising that bones were prohibited until the end of the 14th century: the laws of 1291, 1319 prohibited this game. According to historians, here, again, it was not without the Holy Inquisition: according to the New Testament, the Roman soldiers at the foot of the Holy Cross (the place of execution of Jesus Christ on Calvary) played in them. Although here you can trace the illogicality of the prohibition: bones are prohibited by Rome for storage, but Roman soldiers play in front of people.

In 1396, an amnesty was declared for Zaram - only the distribution and production of fake bones was prohibited. The wealthy houses were very fond of this game. Three dice, representing the present, past and future, were thrown onto the board, or they were used as a fortune-telling game, for example, in France, the Christmas game "Goose" was very popular - the dice were thrown on a board with the image of a grizzled bird.

In the Middle Ages, the Church, an ardent opponent of the zar, suddenly discovered that not only the nobles were playing in them, but the clergy was not alien to the excitement. Measures were urgently required and Bishop Vitold of Cambresia popularized the game "Virtues". Instead of numbers on the sides of the cubes, virtues were symbolically designated: 1.1.1 - love, 1.1.2 - faith, 1.2.4 - chastity, etc. The victorious priest had the right to instruct other monks in virtues. And Pope Sylvester II invented rhythmomachia - a game based on chess, only instead of figures there were dice with numerical designations on the edges. But nevertheless, in the church and near-religious books of that time, bones were described only as the creation of the devil in order to win the souls of mortals. Designations on the verge of sariks are the main enemies of the devil in the Christian religion, against which Satan acts: one - the devil acts against God, two - against God and the Mother of God, three - against the Trinity. But again, the Apostle Peter, having come to Hell, must beat the juggler with dice, who guards sinners, beat - save the suffering souls. And even in spite of the new games, and the "story" of the origin of the game, the popularity of the bones grew among the secular people and among the clergy. There were even schools for teaching the intricacies of the game. Usually they played with two or three dice, which were thrown onto the table from a barrel, hands and even a knight's glove. The most popular was the game with a large amount of points.

But the Slavs played with crutches and goats, and, in contrast to the Europeans, for the most part played the poor. The most popular game was "gritting": before the start of the game, the opponents agreed on which sides of the dice would be considered winning. After that, small white-black zariki threw themselves on the table, the one who guessed the color won. Like cards, dice games were frowned upon and severely punished. But Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich allowed to play cards and grain in Siberia, however, the permission lasted exactly one year and was canceled. As usual, the most popular places for games were taverns, taverns and secret tavern baths. The game of grit was more than popular; it had its own fans and professional players and cheats. And in the north of Russia, at the end of the 19th century, dice, or in the local dialect "lodygi", were played on Christmastide, the cubes were painted red, black and yellow and were stored for decades, as they were used as payment for forfeits or in card games on the Svyattsi.

Types of dice

And in Russian prisons and prisons, they used a pair of zar with "bulls" for the game - this was the name of the glasses on the edges, while each combination of glasses had its own name: 1-1 - a goal, 1-2 - a three, 2-2 - a chikva, 2 -3 - rooster, 5-6 - with pood, 6-6 - pollen. And by the way, the Russian peasants, with the help of bones, divided land plots and agricultural work, and also litigated - in all these matters, solely lot played its role.

And the most ancient bones were found in the southern part of modern Iraq: tetrahedral pyramids made of lapis lazuli and ivory in two corners, decorated with semiprecious stones, date back to about 3 thousand years BC. By the way, our usual "cubes in the form of a cube" with dotted markings or, to be exact, hexagonal cubes with slightly rounded corners, on which the sum of opposite faces always equals seven, we owe, as archaeologists say to the Chinese - they used them in 600 BC. BC. The ancient Egyptians, instead of dots, depicted a "bird's eye" - one of the most famous symbols of Egypt. The Greeks used both cubes and astragalus. Astragalus are dice with four faces and markings in the form of indentations 1, 3, 4 and 6; four astragals were taken to play. In ancient Greece, there were two types of dice: cubes, identical to modern dice (called "barrels", played with three, later - two) and astragalus.

By the way, and now in the game they use not only cubes with a dot marking that are familiar to us. For poker, they take dice with card symbols from ace to nine, and for the game "Crown and Anchor" zaras with a crown, anchor and symbols of four card suits on six sides.

In Europe and the Americas, machine-made dice, or "imperfect" dice with rounded corners around the edges, are bought for playing at home. And in gambling houses and casinos, you will see only perfect dice on the tables: they are made by hand, according to very strict standards, with an error of no more than 0.013 mm. And this clarity is explained quite simply: even the ancients proved that if the bone does not have an ideal cubic shape, then the laws of probability will be violated - after all, the loss of various faces does not equally probable... It is no coincidence that the most famous cheating technique is the use of bones that are irregular in shape, of which there are only three types: bones with a displaced center of gravity, bones with beveled planes and bones with broken markings. The latter will not allow you to roll certain amounts of points, for example, 2 dice with the markings 3-3-4-4-5-5 and 1-1-5-5-6-6 will never roll 2, 3, 7 or 12.

And some RPG games use dice with 4, 6, 8, 12, 20, etc. sides. There are even 100-sided dice - zocchihedrons invented by Low Zocchi. In role-playing games, the type of dice is indicated by the letter "d" (dices) or "k" (dice), after which the number of sides is indicated: for example, d4, d8, d20 dice. There is also d% - a percentage cube in the form of two decahedrons one of which defines tens and the other defines units.

In the 21st century, speaking of dice, they mean either the cubes themselves, which are used to play dice and board games, or they mean games associated with dice.

The most famous games that use dice

Dice games are different and they differ in inventory (the number of zars, the ability to use chips, different ways of recording the results), the goals of the game (the one who collects the maximum or minimum number of points wins, or who throws out certain combinations of numbers together or in order, or, as option that has collected all the cubes or, on the contrary, left without them), there are games with a strict number of players - in general, there are a lot of options and they all have certain historical roots.

The earliest sign of victory in the history of the game is the highest number of points dropped. Now you can feel like a distant descendant of the Roman patricians playing Pig, Chicago, Set aside dead. And if you believe in the absolute benevolence of Fortune, then you can take a chance in the "Indian dice", "Bayburt" or "General" - here your winnings will depend only on a successful combination of the dropped faces. Do you like roulette? You can play Crown and Anchor, Gran Hazar or Under and Over the Family - these games are based on the principle of betting. Are you going to a big company of gambling friends for the weekend? Offer them "Azar" or "Craps" - time is important here, since the sequence of the dropped combinations is important for the victory. And for fans of accurate counting, lotto and Sudoku, "Martinetti" will do - the dropped numbers will need to be checked against the table and "Help your neighbor" - here you will have to check the numbers assigned to the players.

Games are gaining more and more popularity, where they use not only dice, but also special pieces, checkers, which move along the board in accordance with the dropped edges. This is a well-known backgammon with several varieties: short and long backgammon, khachapuri and gulbar, and of course, children's board games and loto with cubes, where the advancement of chips depends on the number of points on the edge. And the game "Aces" is notable for the fact that the dice in it are both dice and chips at the same time.

Craps

In any case, all games have the same principle: the roll of the dice determines the winner or the loser.
In world casinos, craps, which is played with hexagonal dice, is the most popular. This game has been known since about the eighteenth century and according to one version was invented in New Orleans African Americans.
The number of craps players, as well as their entry and exit from the game, are not limited by the rules. At the same time, the order of the throw is clearly regulated: two dice must be thrown so that, hitting the opposite edge of the table, they stop on the table. At the first stage of the game (there are two in total), the player must make one throw, and according to the results of "crepe" (points): if he threw 2, 3 or 12 he is considered a loser, with 7 or 11 points - a winner, and all other combinations ( 4 - 6 and 8 - 10) indicate that the player must repeat the dropped points on the second round. At the next stage, the player throws zaras until he repeats his points, which means a victory, or until a 7 rolls out, which means a loss.

In craps, players can bet on any combination of dice falling out, and there are also many betting options.

Dice Poker

Classic poker served as the ancestor of a number of games with zars, and some games require standard cubes, others - special poker dice, where the images of the nine, tens, figures and ace are applied on the six sides of the dice, and in the third, a combination of both is used. ... Dice poker is closest to card poker, it requires not only luck, but also the ability to quickly calculate the situation, combine solutions.

Bets are placed before the game, the pot belongs to the winner. The players throw five shouts and, according to the rules of poker, they count the dropped combination: four of a kind, straight, full, etc. The rules allow an additional roll by prior agreement between the players (by analogy with the ability to discard unnecessary cards in poker and buy new ones instead): a player can, leaving the dice he needs in the same position, roll the rest. Each of the players after the roll can either be satisfied with the results, or roll from one to five dice. After the second roll, it is possible to roll all the dice, except those that remained on the table during the first roll. The final third roll does not give the right to re-roll. The winner will be the owner of the highest combination (as in poker): poker, four of a kind, full house, three of a kind, two pair, a pair, or, if they are not collected, the player with the most points. The points scored are also taken into account when the opponents' combinations coincide (they count the points at the beginning, included in it), while the combinations can be polysyllabic: a full house of 3 fives and 2 twos (3x5 + 2x2-19) is older than a full house 3 threes and 2 sixes (3x3 + 2x6 = 21). In case of an absolute coincidence of combinations and points, an additional party of players whose results coincide is announced.

The player who throws second in the previous game, or who is sitting to the left of the starter, starts the next game. It is prohibited to interrupt the game in the middle of the circle when the right of the first move returns to the one who started the whole game.

Zarah Game - Sic-bo (Sic Wo)

The ancient Chinese game Sic Bo is also popular in the casino, its other name is Grand Hazard.
They play with three dice, bets are placed on the numbers of the faces that will appear in the game. The number of players is limited by the size of the playing table and the space around it. As in other casino games, Sik-bo is played with perfect zars: perfectly regular cubic shape with dotted markings. The principle of placing bets resembles roulette: the players place chips on the sectors of the playing field according to the types of bets. The dealer launches a popper, a special device that rolls the dice. The name arose from the fact that, due to electrical impulses, bones are thrown up on a round membrane, while striking the dome, characteristic pops are heard. The device turns off after the announcement of the end of accepting bets, the dome is removed and the players see the drawn numbers. Additionally, the dealer calls them out loud. Then the winnings are paid, the chips are removed and the bets on the new game are accepted.

As a rule, the administration of the casino sets the size of the bets on its own, which can be seen on the table where they play Sic Bo: a special plate indicates the minimum and maximum bets for all types of bets.

There are 7 types of bets in Sic Bo (Sic Bo). A bet on one number, paid in a 1: 1 ratio. In this case, if the number on which you bet fell on two dice at once, then your bet will be paid in double size, if on all three dice - in twelve times. Domino bet - implies 15 combinations of numbers, two different numbers selected will be winning. Payment of a bet 6: 1. A bet on a combination of two numbers or a bet on a specific double. If your bet is successful, you will be paid in a ratio of 11: 1, if your number falls on 3 dice, the bet will already be paid in thirty times. A bet on a combination of three identical numbers or on a certain triplet will be paid in the ratio 180: 1 if all three dice have one number. A bet on an arbitrary triplet implies that any triplet drawn will be the winning one, but the player does not choose the number, the payment will be in the ratio of 31: 1. The next bet, on more or less, is divided into two subspecies: either the player bets on the "large amount" from 11 to 17 or on the "small amount" from 4 to 10. If the sum of the points of the three dice falls into the player's range, then his winnings will be calculated in the ratio is 1: 1, the main thing is that there is no triplet, in which the bet loses. And finally, a bet on a certain amount of numbers. There are 14 of them for all amounts from 4 to 17. The amount specified by you must match the sum of the numbers on all dice, the winning is determined by the selected amount.

Backgammon is the most famous and respected game where dice are used.

One of the most popular dice games is backgammon. It was from them that another name for the cubes came from - "zary". It is approximately known that backgammon has been played for over 5000 years, an analogue of this game was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, and the oldest backgammon board dates back to about 3000 BC. The Persians considered this game mystical, predicted the fate of it, correlated the board for the game with the sky, and the movement of checkers - with the movement of the stars. Everything on the board is a multiple of six and is associated with the passage of time: 12 months - 12 points of the board, 24 hours a day - 23 points, 4 seasons - 4 parts of the board, 30 checkers - the number of lunar and moonless nights in a month. The sum of points on the opposite sides of the dice is seven - the number of planets known at that time, which influenced everything good and bad in the world.

Historians argue about the ancestor country of this game. According to one of the legends, the Indian ruler sent chess to the Persian ruler, believing that no one would understand how to play this complex game. In response, the Persian sage Byuzurkmehr, who immediately solved the secret of chess, sent them Nard takhe "Battle on a wooden board", the principle of which the Indians had been solving for 12 years. Another variant of the origin of the name is from the Indian "backgammon" - a plant from which incense and aromatic oils were made. Backgammon is also called a special board that serves as a field for the game.

Backgammon is a game with many names: in Spain - tablero, in Italy - tavola reale, in the Ottoman Empire - tavla - all these words mean "board game". But the Greeks, French and British gave backgammon their own names, διαγραμισμος, trick-track and backgammon, respectively.

The spread of backgammon, then they were called Trick-track (presumably because of the sound of bones hitting a wooden board), in Western Europe begins with the end of the Crusades of the XII century. In the Middle Ages, only the game of kings was called backgammon - it was the privilege of the highest aristocracy.

The original rules of this game are almost erased in history, basically, now we play backgammon, the rules of which were established in the middle of the 18th century by Edmond Hoyle in Great Britain, known as "Backgammon". This name arose as a contrast to the eastern "Long Backgammon". Another name for short backgammon, Backgammon, again does not have an exact explanation, but the most popular versions are that this name came from the English "back" and "game", and contained the basic principle of the game: a beaten opponent's checker comes back. Another variant of the origin of this name is associated with the Gaulish language: "Baec" (small) and "Gammit" (battle).

Backgammon is played on a special board - a playing field - of a rectangular shape. The board consists of 24 points, 12 on each of two opposite sides. Outwardly, these are usually narrow isosceles triangles, the base of which lies on the side, and the height reaches the middle of the board. Points are numbered from 1 to 24 for each player, most often even points are colored in one color, and odd ones in another. The player's house consists of six points in a row located in one of the corners of the board, its location is determined by the rules. Some boards have special areas on the sides for placing checkers behind the board. On the sides of the board, areas can be allocated for placing checkers behind the board. In the middle of the board is a bar - a vertical strip dividing the board. If the game proceeds according to the rules where you can beat the opponent's checkers, then they are placed on the bar.
Each player has his own set of checkers of the same color - usually there are 15 of them (possibly less, depending on the rules). And actually the dawns themselves. At least one pair, but there may be two, for each player, as well as kegs for mixing the dice. If the game is played on a bet, then on the playing field there may also be a "doubling cube", on the edges of which the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 are applied - it is convenient to take into account the increase in rates with it.

Regardless of the many options for playing backgammon, which differ in the rules of moves, rates, the initial position of the chips, backgammon combines the general rules of the game. Players take turns, checkers move in a circle, the direction of their movement is fixed in a particular game, but may differ in other versions. The first move is determined by lot: each player throws one die, the winner starts the game.
Before each move, the player throws two zars. The dice are thrown to an empty space on the board on one side of the bar - this is how possible moves are determined. The throws are strictly limited by the rules: if at least one of the dice flies off the board, the dice are on opposite sides of the bar, the dice falls on a checker or stands on an edge (on the edge of the board or on a checker), then the throw is not counted and is repeated. For one throw, from 1 to 4 movements of the checker are possible. In each of them, the player moves the checker by the number of points that fell on one of the dice. If a double is dropped, the points will be doubled and the player will make 4 movements, while he must use the maximum possible number of points. Each move of the checker is done for the full number of points that fall on the dice. In this case, if there are no available movements for the dropped number of points, then the player misses the move, but if there is an opportunity to move the checker, then the player is obliged to do this, even if it will worsen his playing position. If there are two options for a move, when one involves using the points of only one of the dice, and the other - both, the player must choose the last option. In the event that it is possible to move one of the two checkers, when the move of one checker excludes the possibility of another move, the player must make a move by more points.
After all the player's checkers have hit his house, having made a circle around the board, the player begins to place them behind the board. A checker is placed behind the board when the number of the point on which it stands coincides with the number of points dropped on one of the charges. If all the placed checkers are closer than the drawn number, then the checker from the point with the highest number is placed behind the board.

In backgammon, there is always a winner - the one who first put his checkers off the board. He gets one point. In the case of Mars, when the winner has thrown all the checkers overboard, and the loser has none, the first gets two points. Three points are awarded to the winner who has removed all the checkers from the board, while his opponent has not removed a single one and one of his checkers is in the winner's house or on the board - this is called a coke. If the game is played on a bet, then one bet is paid for a regular victory, doubled for Mars, and tripled for coke. Backgammon bets can be increased at the request of the player before his move. Before the first move, each player has this right. Refusal to raise rates entails an admission of loss. When the player raises the bet, he takes the doubling cube for himself and sets it up with the edge, which shows the coefficient of the increase in the bet. Today backgammon is so popular that international tournaments are held on it.

Less popular dice games

Another game using dice "Under and above the family" is a variant of Sik-bo, played with six-sided dice. There are three fields on the game table where bets are placed. The game is against the bank. The banker throws two dice and the winner is immediately determined. The winner is paid 1: 1 for playing a bet in the fields "Under 7" and "Over 7", and 5: 1 for winning in the field "7".
Under 7 7 Over 7
2-3-4-5-6 7 8-9-10-11-12
1 to 1 5 to 1 1 to 1

Types of fraud and illegal manipulation of dice

Naturally, such an ancient game could not fail to attract the attention of fraudsters: in the tombs of Ancient Egypt, zars were found, over which the sharper obviously labored, archaeologists found fraudulent bones in the burials of the Middle East and the American continents.

If the edges are deviated from the correct shape, then the nature of the game will change, the likelihood of an equal drop of numbers will disappear. Unclean players use in the game dice with beveled planes, displaced center of gravity, incorrect markings, magnets, mercury. If you hold the cube in the desired position for a few moments, the mercury will move and the cube will fall on the side with which it was held.

The numbers on the marked dice do not match the correct probability distribution. The most common scammers are sawn bones. Usually, one or several sides of such bones are sawn, which means that the cube will often fall out on wide sides. The curb bones are zars, regular in shape, but on one side of the surface there is a hole drilled into which a lead sinker is placed. The hole is sealed, and the die is more likely to fall out on the opposite side of the weighted one.

It happens that bones change their shape: two faces are made slightly concave, and two are convex. When thrown, such a die will fall on even edges. You can make the bone slightly elongated, then it will fall to the longer side. Another change in zar is to round the edges of some faces, which will prevent it from falling on them, and if you make the edges of the face protruding, it will prevent the bone from rolling.

Another variant of fraud is the repetition of numbers on the opposite side, professional cheaters scammers introduce them into the game during the game, and since it is impossible to simultaneously see all the edges of the dice, novice players may not notice this.

Magnetic dice can also be used in foul play. They contain a fine steel wire grill or steel discs that are inserted into the holes that mark the glasses. Usually, 4 faces are filled with metal, which are opposite to those that should fall out according to the scammers' plan. An electromagnet is inserted into the table, and when it is turned on, the metal edges are attracted.

There are many stories about the "lucky ones of Fortune", who can throw any combination, but in reality, professional dice players with long training can bring the technique of throwing to the ideal, which can significantly increase the likelihood of a given combination appearing.

If, when throwing, the dice is given a rotational impulse parallel to the table, at the moment of throwing the dice is with the right side to the top, falling, it will continue to rotate, preventing overturning. You can "roll" the bone in a given plane - two sides that are on the side will then have less chance of falling out. If the game is played on a sufficiently slippery surface, then you can make the dice slide in the right direction: one of the dice is held slightly with the little finger, as a result, it will slide, not roll, and will keep the preselected number on the upper edge.

It is not easy to expose scammers with the ABILITY to throw the dice. So, the "Greek" throw, when the lower bone is pressed in the right direction by the upper one, is almost invisible, and the most talented cheaters can change bones during the throw in less than a second, hiding the counterfeit bones inside their palms.

Even a super professional cannot be absolutely sure that the game is fair. If the player doubts the decency of his rivals, then you need to pay attention to: the numbering of the sides of the cube; that the sum of points on opposite sides is always 7; all faces are equal in area and the same in shape, texture, plane, the tops and edges of the zar have the correct shape, there are rounds, then they are the same at all corners; the gaps between two cubes pressed against each other should be the same; the markings on the cubes are made at the same distance from each other and at the same depth. Bones with a displaced center of gravity will help to identify the test for rotation between the fingers (or, if conditions permit, when immersed in liquid).

The most reliable way not to get to the same table with scammers is to choose the company and place of the game wisely. The honesty of partners and the reliable reputation of the gambling establishment guarantees you higher security than if you examine the dice with a magnifying glass after each throw.

Dice in astrology

And zar lovers will also be interested to know that astrologers advise to select bones in accordance with the sign of the zodiac. Aries are recommended the classic colors - black and white, for a change you can take bright reds, oranges, blue, lilac, crimson and all shiny. Cubes of the colors of nature are suitable for Taurus: green grass, pink sunset, blue sky, brown gobies. And, of course, no red! Gemini is in for good luck with purple hints, but it does not fit to use light yellow and gray cubes. Cancers are lucky with pale golden and silvery, light green and purple, lilac. Luxury Leos will appreciate the purple, gold, orange, scarlet and black bones. And unassuming Virgos will be helped to enrich themselves by gray, beige, dark blue zars, as well as any shades of green. Balanced Libra needs dark blue, sea waves and pastel colors, and bright Scorpios are promised victory and bright cubes: rich yellow, dark red, scarlet, crimson. Sagittarius will be lucky with blue, blue, purple, crimson bones, and Capricorns should never choose light bones, for them the best is dark green, black, ash gray, blue, pale yellow, dark brown and all dark tones ... Aquarius will be enriched when playing with dark blue, sapphire, lilac, blue-green and purple cubes, unless, of course, he is opposed by Pisces with white, emerald, light lilac, purple, violet, blue, purple or steel shimmers.

If you love tattoos, then dice are a symbol of good luck and success in all matters, because the number of union and balance is firmly connected with them - 6.

Buying dice and the criteria to pay attention to

The main part of dice games is based on calculating the mathematical probability of the appearance of any sum of numbers on the edges of the dice when throwing the dice, while the theory of probability always leaves a chance for a huge jackpot. The total probability obeys the law of combinations and permutations, but since the beginning it is determined by simple mathematics.
The dice were thrown and thrown in a circle, played and wondered on them. They evoke a reverent attitude towards themselves, as connecting with higher powers - and no wonder, with such a story! It is in the bones that the impermanence of Fortune is visible, which instantly denies its favor, and then elevates and enriches. Despite numerous prohibitions, dice games have survived to this day and are popular both in ordinary houses and in casinos.

Layered rocks are usually easily divided into plates and tiles, on the surface of which various traces of the past can be seen. On them there are various signs that previously seemed mysterious and mysterious, but the study of them showed that they were formed in the usual ways. Among them are wave-breaking signs that captured a rolling wave, grooves left by sea currents, traces of crawling and walking animals, cracks of drying on the surface of ancient silts, bizarrely curved layers of slumped sediments and traces of other phenomena.

In the layers of rocks, sometimes there is something that seems to be contrary to common sense. For example, jellyfish prints. After all, the jellyfish is not so easy to take out of the water; the watery, jelly-like body is not held in the hands and easily slips between the fingers. And nevertheless, jellyfish prints are sometimes perfectly preserved in rocks, the age of which reaches 600 - 700 million years.

Here is another extremely rare case. Several years ago, American geologists published a photograph that was later reprinted by Komsomolskaya Pravda. On the stone, you can see the imprint of a perch choking on a fish that is too large for it.

What happened to the fish? About 40 million years ago, the waters of a large lake spilled over the territory of Wyoming in North America. Our predatory perch and harmless herring also lived in it. And it so happened that somehow a tragic meeting for both fish took place. The perch, as it happened before, pounced on the defenseless herring, but did not notice that it was large and ... choked.

A case tragic for fish and interesting for us has come down to our time thanks to a fortunate coincidence. The dead fish sank to the bottom together and quickly became covered with silt. And the silt, under the weight of new sediments, has compacted over many millions of years and turned into a solid stone. The fish bones buried in it were saturated with mineral salts and left a rare trace of the tragic event of the distant past on the stone slabs.

On the gray slab of marl, numerous grooves are visible, similar to cobwebs or rays, diverging in all directions. Looking closely at the grooves, we will notice that they are like faceted - their sides are flat and intersect with each other at angles of 30 and 60 °. If the surface of the marl is slightly warped, then the grooves are slightly curved.

To understand the origin of grooved patterns, consider a frosty morning. Before that, it rained heavily and puddles formed in many places on the clay soil. The night was cold and the water in the puddles froze. Above - a mirror-like smooth ice surface, below it is covered with ice ribs, a "frosty pattern". Carefully remove the ice crust and then under it on the clay we will see imprints of needle ice crystals. They correspond exactly to the grooves in the marl. The grooves and their clusters in the form of a cobweb on a stone are witnesses of past frosts. Following them, the prints of the ice rays were covered with silt, petrified and in a "sealed" form have survived to this day.

In the petrified clay, on a flat bedding surface, there are small round depressions that resemble a miniature crater. These are traces of raindrops and hailstones. Raindrops and hailstones falling on soft sediment, for example, on silt near the coast of the sea or lake, formed pits with annular ridges. The shape of the pits depended on the direction of the fall of rain drops and hailstones: it is round if water drops or hailstones descended vertically, and elliptical if they fell obliquely. It is interesting that with an oblique fall of drops, the edge of the elliptical fossa is higher on the side in the direction of which it descended. This feature of the shape of the pits allows you to determine the direction of rain streams.

Often a geologist has to deal not with prints of raindrops and hailstones, but with their casts, a kind of "negatives" of relief formations. They look like small blisters or warts. Negative prints of raindrops and hailstones are shown at the base of the upper layer in Fig. 28.

Under favorable conditions, the traces of raindrops can be distinguished from hailstones. Hailstorm prints are usually wider and deeper than raindrops, and they are less regular in shape and with rough edges.

In 1885 the famous Austrian geologist E. Suess described a new type of footprints on the stone, which he called “earthquake autographs”. On the surface of a stone slab found near Prague, he discovered sawtooth notches, which appeared when hard grains of sand scratched the soft surface of the slate. Later, similar finds were made in other places. In 1926, the British geologists Chellinore and Williams reported similar signs on the surface of the Silurian shale in southern England. These signs are essentially graphs of ancient earthquakes, natural fossil seismograms.

Quite often on the surface there are bizarre depressions that look like traces of extraordinary creatures - and this is actually the case. The stone perfectly preserved the traces of extinct animals. They are of great interest to scientists. On such traces, the pictures of life in the geological past are being restored.

Sun Stone

SYMBOL. STONES.

Agate.

Yeah t is one of the mystical talisman stones. The name comes from the name of the Achaetes River in Sicily, where this mineral, a type of chalcedony, was found for a long time. Agate is the stone of the planets Saturn and Neptune in the signs of the earth. Agate is associated with the zodiac sign Taurus. It is considered the mascot of May. Agate protects against the evil eye and poisons, gives its owner longevity and health. White and yellow agate promotes kindness, softness, inner calmness and confidence. In ancient times, it was considered a talisman against sorcerers and vampires. It was dedicated to the goddess Pomona, the patroness of crops and horticulture. This is the talisman of honest toilers, farmers, gardeners. Black agate is a male mascot. It protects from danger and evil forces, but it causes sadness. Black agates were especially appreciated in medieval Europe. This type of stone gives power over evil forces, and therefore serves as a talisman. But at the same time, agate can plunge the owner into sadness. Layered agates give men a love charm. Healers gave the patient, tormented by thirst, to hold the agate in his mouth, which was supposed to alleviate his suffering. Moss agate promoted the harvest and guarded against atrocities. True, it was not recommended to give it as a love talisman. Many peoples had the idea that agate facilitates childbirth.
In ancient times, in the countries of the East, moss agate was highly valued, the bizarre patterns of which resembled dense forest thickets and evoked mysterious and mystical images. This is a stone of people with fervent imagination, who are able to discern the whole world in a small fragment.
Agate beads are believed to help with prolonged lingering coughs and sore throats. Agate is also believed to help with epilepsy.

Diamond.

This gemstone acts primarily as a symbol of hardness, strength, brilliance and light. One of its names - diamond comes from the Sanskrit dyu meaning "shining"; in the Indo-European tradition, the etymology of this word can be traced to the base with the meaning "shining sky" (which is understood as the supreme deity). Also called "adamant" (from the Greek adamas, "invincible"). The Hindus called him "azira" - indestructible. It was believed that the diamond could not be destroyed and that the anvil would sooner go into the ground than the hammer would break the diamond. In one of the directions of Buddhism, Vajrayana, a diamond (vajra, at the same time this word means lightning) is considered as a symbol of the irresistible power of the spirit piercing the darkness. In the Bible, Yahweh tells Ezekiel: “like a diamond that is harder than stone, I have made your forehead” (Ezek. 3); the sin of Judas (that is, one of the tribes of Israel), as the Bible says, “is inscribed with a diamond tip on the tablet of their hearts” (Jer. 17). The diamond, like all precious stones, symbolizes moral and intellectual values; he is an image of spiritual strength, perfection, greatness. In addition, the image of a diamond on various emblems symbolizes the mystical Center.
Diamond is a gemstone that has the ability to glow in the dark and is endowed with unique optical properties. It is transparent to ultraviolet light, usually colorless or slightly tinted in shades of yellow, pink, blue and green.
Diamond is a symbol of many different sides of the personality, such as purity, innocence, invincibility, strength. If you believe the legends, the owner of this stone will always be protected from illness and bad sleep. The diamond is very demanding. Self-indulgence on the part of the owner does not forgive and can even turn against the person himself. According to legend, a diamond must come into the hands of a person in an honest way, without the use of force, otherwise it can have a negative impact on the newly made owner. When choosing products made of diamond, one should pay attention to the quality of the stone itself. Defective products should be avoided as they were thought to attract disease. The symbolism of a diamond is undoubtedly associated with its crystal structure (a crystal is thought of as a perfect form of a substance). Various magical properties are attributed to diamond: with its help it was possible to detect poison, heal many diseases, it also acts as a powerful amulet.
Amethyst.

Amethyst is a mystical talisman stone. The name of this mineral in translation from Greek means "intoxicated", because in those days there was a belief that the one who wore amethyst was not subject to intoxication. It was believed that the stone absorbs wine vapors. For this reason, goblets were often decorated with amethyst. In addition, amethyst gives a person reason and vigor, drives away evil spirits from him. With its help, it is possible to pacify the wind. Has allegorical names "stone of love", "bishop's stone", "stone of old bachelors", "widow's stone", etc. It is considered the stone of February. Astrologers have defined it as "moonstone". On an astrological level, it is ruled by the planet Neptune. In ancient Babylon, it was believed that amethyst brings happiness to those born under the sign of Pisces. Ancient Greek and modern astrologers attributed it to the sign of Sagittarius.
Amethyst can be safely called a chameleon stone, since its color can change from pale purple to deep purple. This variation in shades is due to the exposure of the stone to sunlight, which causes discoloration of the amethyst. Traders did not quite justifiably call its modifications "madeira-topaz", "palmeira-topaz", "golden topaz". It was used to make necklaces, beads, earrings, rings and other items.
The first surviving mention of amethyst ("amethytos") belongs to a student of Aristotle - Tirtamos of Erez, the author of the work "On Stones". But it is known that even the Sumerian priests used the stone in magical practice. Amethyst symbolizes fun. He assists the owner in hunting and sports. According to Greek myth, the stone got its name from the nymph Ametis. Pursued by Dionysus, the nymph prayed for help to the goddess Artemis, and she turned her to stone, therefore the amethyst prevents the action of the wine spell of Bacchus.
According to another interpretation, the word "amethyst" comes from the distorted Hebrew "ahlam", which in turn comes from "halon", which means "sleep". Associated with this is the ability of amethyst to induce drowsiness and induce dreams. The Romans gave the amethyst the epithet "blessed stone". According to them, it brings good luck and heals from nervous disorders.
Amethyst was used as a love spell... He evokes love for the giver of the stone. Due to this circumstance, the Sumerians called amethyst "the stone of new love". Married women were warned against receiving such gifts. It is no coincidence that amethyst was called "the stone of old bachelors". The ban on giving amethyst to women was strictly observed until the 20th century. In Catholic countries, amethyst was called "episcopal", and in the Orthodox - "bishop's stone". When ordained to the rank of cardinals, they were awarded a special ring with an amethyst. Amethyst was certainly present in the adornments of clergy.
Was one of the favorite precious stones in Russia, where he was called "dumpling"... In the manuals on Russian healing practice, it was reported: "The power of this stone is as follows: drunkenness drives away dashing thoughts, makes good minds and helps in all kinds of things. If someone drinks this stone, he makes the barren fruitful, okorm extinguishes, protects military people from ailments and it leads to overcoming, and to catching wild beasts and birds is good for good. Amethyst does not allow the one (who) wears it to leave in memory. " Ural miners called amethyst "underground violet". Even in underground workings, it did not lose its brightness, which was a specific property of amethyst. Possessing its own healing properties, amethyst protects from intoxication, and also heals burns and nervous disorders. In the past, amethyst was preferable as a gift to your loved ones. This stone was considered to be a wrinkle-smoothing and freckle-freeing agent. People also believed that amethyst brings happiness and strengthens the will of a person. It is important that in order to achieve the positive results of using amethyst, it should only be worn occasionally.

A symbol of happy love and a gracious family life. Its symbolism is associated with ancient oriental beliefs that turquoise is nothing more than the bones of deceased people. Astrologically, turquoise is subordinate to Jupiter. True, the ancient astrologers did not classify turquoise as one of the zodiacal stones. However, it is recommended for people born under the sign of Sagittarius. Almost universally, turquoise is the mascot of December.
Turquoise is the main stone of the East, the sacred stone of Tibet, the stone of the Egyptian pharaohs, as well as the heavenly stone of the American Indians. Many stones lose their incomprehensible powers, but turquoise is able to retain its mystical properties, changing color, becoming pale, spotty, changing from blue to white. Apparently, her capricious character provoked the emergence of many legends and myths, interpreting these changes in a certain way. Turquoise was believed to reflect various health conditions. Turns pale - if the owner is sick, turns white after his death. The color of the stone can be restored if it is worn again by a healthy heir.
The ancient Egyptians valued turquoise over other stones, possibly due to its ease of shaping. Egyptian goddess Hathor was called "the queen of turquoise"; scarabs were carved from the same stone - the sacred symbol of the resurrected god Ra. In the lifeless deserts, legends arose that water could be found with a stick made of turquoise. Aristotle wrote that turquoise protects against death and is curative in the treatment of a scorpion bite.
In Tibet, turquoise was valued so much that it was considered not a stone, but a deity... Famous Tibetan families even adopted surnames such as "turquoise roof", believing that this would bring good luck.
American Indians wore turquoise beads, believing that turquoise would save them from fear and from the deadly bite of a rattlesnake. Navaja shepherds wore such beads to protect them from thunderstorms. Making requests to the god of rain and the god of winds, they threw a turquoise stone into the water. It was also believed that if the wind howls, it looks for turquoise. A horse carved from turquoise is believed to make the horse trade profitable. Most important to the Indians was the influence of turquoise on hunting. She has also served as an award in various contests and as a medium of exchange in all Indian business conventions. Used in many religious ceremonies and rituals.
Turquoise was known to Europeans long before Cortez brought its varieties from the New World. The myths of the Old World are very similar to the American ones. In China, it was believed that turquoise gives great strength to the one who looks at it. According to Chinese doctors, the use of a healing turquoise ointment led to the cure of cataracts. It supposedly returns color to the pupils and promotes vision in the dark. In terms of magical procedure, meditation on turquoise at night, on the day of the new moon, could improve health and bring victory in battle. Many ancient authors attributed to her the ability to cure epilepsy, intestinal diseases, ulcers, tumors.
Russian soldiers wore turquoise as a means of protection in battles. She was especially highly valued by cavalrymen. It was believed that turquoise is quite suitable for pain in the eyes, and the correct contemplation of it makes a person happy; so at least in 1655 Thomas Nicollier wrote.
The Romans associated turquoise with the goddess of love Venus. It should be worn on Fridays - this day is dedicated to Venus and love. In Russia and Germany, wedding rings were made from turquoise to strengthen the marriage union and reconciliation of spouses in family quarrels.
Turquoise makes a person more attractive. She is often used in divination practice and is one of the favorite divination fetishes among the gypsies. Turquoise was widely believed to bring happiness. The name "stone of happiness" is used even in modern reference books. Turquoise helps lovers. The Romans associated turquoise with Venus. They believed that turquoise jewelry should only be worn on the day of the goddess of love - Friday. In Russia and Germany, wedding rings were made from turquoise. The main qualities of the stone are to reconcile the warring parties, stop quarrels, and establish peace. Hanging around the neck as a talisman, turquoise moderates bleeding, relieves the suffering of patients with hepatitis. But it is contraindicated for evil people. Turquoise brings misfortune to property owners who do not observe moral commandments.
· Heliodor.

Heliodor is a type of beryl. Stone of heavenly bodies - Sun, Mercury; associated with the zodiac sign Gemini. Heliodor is one of the varieties of transparent beryl of golden color and contains a complex of aluminum, beryllium and iron. White and gray beryls with a yellowish tint can also be referred to as heliodors. Translated from Greek, the name of this stone means "gift of the sun", apparently due, for the most part, to the golden hue of the mineral. In ancient times, only transparent yellow stones, called particles-gifts of the Sun, were valued. They contributed to intellectual activity. Therefore, beryl was considered a stone for people of science, inclined to research work. In ancient times, it was believed that the stone contributes to scientific discoveries. As a mascot, he guarded its owner on travel. Was a symbol of loyalty and love.
In the East, it was considered a purely female stone. It was used in the treatment of female diseases and some eye diseases. Heliodors are prized for their transparency. The more transparent the stone, the higher its price. Thus, the most valuable are yellowish-green, as well as lemon-yellow transparent heliodors. There is a belief that heliodor, whose color is represented by warm shades, is able to endow the soul of its owner with peace and tranquility. Heliodor has a positive effect on children, protecting them from external dangers. Therefore, a family, most of whose members are children, it is recommended to give preference to this stone. For everyone else, this stone will provide harmony and peace of mind. A person choosing a heliodor jewelry for himself must make sure that this stone suits him according to the sign of the zodiac. In case of compliance, the stone must be worn constantly, and only then the heliodor will show its magical properties. It is believed that heliodor is able to stop time and slow down human aging. Here is the stone of immortality. (approx. Mefisto)

Hyacinth.

Hyacinth is a talisman stone. A type of zircon with a crimson or reddish hue. The leading color of this stone is red, but often it forms a kind of complex with brown and yellow. Hyacinth is considered the stone of the luminaries of the Moon, Saturn and Uranus. Hyacinth is a transparent mineral that is related to some gemstones. So, in the East, he is considered the "brother" of the diamond... Nowadays, noble zircon is often called hyacinth. The extraordinary shine of hyacinth is lost when the stone is exposed to fire or, oddly enough, when bad weather approaches. Pliny the Elder wrote: “Hyacinth is sharply different from amethyst, although they are similar in color. The biggest difference is that the bright violet color, which is so brilliant in amethyst, is diluted in hyacinth. "
It is believed that this mineral got its name from the hyacinth flower, with which the Greeks had a legend about a beautiful young man - the son of the Spartan king Ebal, the favorite of the radiant god Apollo. Once Apollo threw a heavy disk towards the very clouds. Hyacinth rushed to the place where this disc was supposed to fall, wanting to prove to his divine friend that he would not yield to him in the art of throwing. But the god of the west wind Zephyr was inflamed with jealousy for the beauty of the young man and sent the disk directly into his head, mortally wounding him. Shocked with grief, Apollo grew a fragrant flower from his blood in memory of Hyacinth.
Hyacinth, like many gemstones, has its own magical properties. So, to its owner, this stone guarantees an increase in the level of mental activity and the development of craving for various kinds of sciences. In ancient times, blue zircon, as a subspecies of hyacinth, was considered a talisman for travelers, because, according to legends, it was able to protect them from snake bites and attacks of forest animals. In addition to the above properties, hyacinth also has the ability to promote the development of human cognitive activity, improve memory and increase the level of intelligence. Hyacinth is a stone of sorrow and sorrow. Calming actions were attributed to hyacinth: it was believed that it relieves melancholy, bestows hope, it can be worn during depression. But despite all the advantages, hyacinth brings loneliness and unhappiness in love. Therefore, it can only be worn temporarily - during depression. In Russia in the 19-20 centuries it was considered a stone of merchants and artists.
Garnet

Pomegranate (from Lat. "Granatus") is a mystical talisman stone. Associated with the zodiac signs Leo and Capricorn... There are pyropes (fiery red garnets), almandines (stones of crimson and red shades), andradites (emerald-colored garnets), grossulars (colorless garnets) and melanites (black garnets). Another name for the pomegranate is "venis": under this name it was known for a long time in Russia. The ancient Romans called pomegranates "carbuncles", that is, "coals". “He, like a burning coal, throws rays in all directions,” wrote Pliny the Elder about the grenade. Various nationalities attributed respectively different magical properties to the pomegranate. So, the inhabitants of the East believed that the pomegranate contributes to the emergence of strong passionate desires in a person. They also had a belief that garnet jewelry, worn on the hand of a truly ardent and passionate person, delighted the eye with an extraordinary brilliance. The peoples of Persia considered pomegranate to be their patron and even called it "the royal stone". For the Chinese, pomegranates symbolized fun. He protected from the evil eye, bad dreams and betrayal.
In ancient Egypt and Babylon, he was a sign of the harvest. In India it symbolized love and devotion. For many centuries, it was believed that the pomegranate, as a stone of friendship, improves relationships between people and strengthens love relationships. Christians prized the red garnet because it cheered hearts and helped reconcile friends. Medieval magicians believed that the pomegranate generates outbursts of passion, and sometimes this circumstance turns against the owners themselves. On the hand of a person obsessed with passion, pomegranates begin to shine strongly, as they are filled with blood. Stolen grenades can bring many disasters. In the magical calendar, pomegranates are the amulet of January.
For a long time, this stone was considered a talisman of lovers and, as a gift, symbolized a gentle friendly or loving attitude towards the addressee of the gift. Due to its rich red color, pomegranate has long been considered a blood pressure stabilizer. One of the medicinal properties of pomegranate is to help with infectious diseases, as well as febrile conditions. Pomegranate gives a person energy, increases vitality and gives strength.

Pearl.

Pearls are the highest element in the symbolic hierarchy of gems. as an image of perfection (since it has the shape of a ball) and beauty. As a rule, it symbolizes absolute reality, the highest wisdom and purity, as well as the human soul (hidden in the body)... Pearls are a stone of organic nature. Pearls are white, silvery white, cream or pink in color. There are even golden brown and black pearls. Known for sea and river pearls. In China and India, pearls were associated with the feminine principle, with the Moon, fertility and magical powers.
Lao Tzu remarked: “The Chosen One wears coarse clothes, but hides a precious stone in his chest,” thus likening the sage to a pearl hiding inside a shell. In Taoist legends, Lao Tzu himself appears to be born of a five-color pearl (a symbol of solar energy), swallowed by his mother. The ancient Greeks considered the pearl to be a symbol of marriage. In Islam, the pearl is seen as an image of the sky. It is also believed that the pearl is the fruit of the union of fire and water. In the New Testament, the kingdom of Christ is likened to pearls, which a merchant buys after selling all his property. The Gospel expression "toss pearls before pigs" originally meant "to argue about the truths of faith with blasphemers." In the esoteric tradition, pearls are a symbol of secret knowledge.
Magical astrology recommends immersing pearls in water on the first, second, twenty-eighth and thirtieth days of the lunar month. It is best to buy and wear pearls on the 29th lunar day. It can be worn by Pisces, because he protects them from rash actions.
Pearls and mother-of-pearl are stones that can make you a completely frustrated, disorganized person if you are not in control of yourself. Pearls are contraindicated for those who do not have their own pair. It works well only for family people. For loners, he can give bouts of melancholy and depression. And to those people who have lived together for a long time, he brings peace and tranquility.
Pearl is a dangerous and very vicious stone... It is good only for fanatical, self-confident people. He provides them with different options for choosing actions, he distracts them from fanaticism, gives them objectivity, and in frivolous people, pearls make their epileptoid disposition of nature even more unstable, gives congestion, eternal concern and misanthropy.
He makes convinced people more objective, closer to other people, he knocks down pride, arrogance, vanity, makes it possible to look back and secure their rear.
It is bad for all love affairs - it strengthens loyalty in love for the chosen one and the loyalty of the chosen one herself. Therefore, you can often see pearls on icons in the church. Pearls strengthen the house, home building. The pearl is a symbol of the soul. Best of all, he reveals his essence to those people who devote themselves to spiritual development or manifest themselves in a spiritual society.
Pearls immediately tarnish if a person begins to follow the "low path". It is especially bad for travelers, actors - it deprives them of opportunities. Suppresses sexual activity.
Black pearls are a stone of longing, sadness, depression. Young women cannot wear it, it provokes widowhood. But on the other hand, it gives widows and divorced people the opportunity to find a life partner.
He knocks down arrogance, pride and vanity from offenders, in every possible way protecting his master. Pearls love and quickly get used to the owner, but they are extremely reluctant to serve another, if given. It protects its owner from anger, hatred and betrayal.
In a low person, pearls are short-lived: they darken and can crumble. In water travel, pearls make sure that they are unimpeded, and they know how to negotiate with the water element and its population, as soon as it is lowered into the water. Promotes prosperity and longevity, brings happiness to its owner. The luster of a pearl depends on the health of its owner. After the death of the owner, the pearl tarnishes. In ancient Rome, pearls were dedicated to the goddess of love Venus. The ring with pearls protects from thieves and unfortunate transactions. Even the ancient Chinese believed that pearls enhance visual acuity and heal ear diseases. In the form of ash it is used to cleanse the stomach and for inflammation of the intestines as an internal one. It can be used in the treatment of hepatitis and in the presence of stones in the gallbladder. In the Middle Ages, children with anemia were given milk with crushed pearls to drink. For liver diseases, they drank a solution in which pearls were boiled.
Pearls promote longevity. Pearls are a good styptic. Therefore, it is used in the form of powders and infusions for bleeding gums, vomiting blood, blood hemorrhoids. In order to get charged pearl water, you need to put four to five small pearls in a glass of water and let it brew overnight. You can drink the water the next morning. Pearl water helps with inflammation. It is alkaline and akin to "living water".
Lapis lazuli.

Lapis lazuli is a bright blue semi-precious opaque stone sometimes with white spots or golden inclusions of light inclusions of pyrite. The general color structure of lapis lazuli makes it possible to draw an analogy with the starry sky. But it is possible to observe such a picture only in sunlight, since lapis lazuli instantly darkens in a dark room. Stone of the planets Venus and Uranus in the signs of the earth... Armenian manuscripts of the 17th century say that the only real precious lapis lazuli is the one that “can stay on fire without losing its color” for 10 days.
Known from the 4th millennium BC. NS. In Assyria, Babylon and Egypt, it was considered one of the most expensive stones, served as a measure of value. In ancient Egypt, sacred scarab beetles were carved from lapis lazuli, rolling the Sun and symbolizing immortality. The gold-framed scarab was considered a talisman that ensured long life and prosperity. According to the biblical legend, the laws of Moses were carved on planks of lapis lazuli. From the same mineral, a figurine of the Egyptian goddess of truth Maat was carved, which served as a talisman for the supreme judges-priests of Egypt. The history of this mineral is associated, for the most part, with the creation of architectural ensembles and painting. So, in the 19th century, two columns of the greatest St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg were made of lapis lazuli. And even earlier, in Ancient Egypt, a lapis lazuli covering adorned a statue of one of the rulers of the state. The most valuable paint for artists of past centuries was ultramarine, since it did not have the peculiarity of fading in the sun. Lapis lazuli played an important role in those days, because added as a powder to paint, acting as an ultramarine pigment... The resulting paint was used in their work by the greatest artists of the past centuries.
It is a stone of sincerity and friendliness. In ancient times, diplomatic gifts, including lapis lazuli, were believed more than any assurances. Otherwise, this mineral is called "stone of the sky."
Possessing its magical properties, lapis lazuli symbolizes love, being, thereby, the talisman of lovers. Lapis lazuli bestows happiness in love, play, peace and joy. Promotes the implementation of plans and projects, renewal of the circle of acquaintances, strengthens friendship. It provides good luck to everyone who strives for new heights and conquests. As a remedy, lapis lazuli helps those suffering from insomnia, allergies, skin diseases and rheumatism. In addition, this stone is useful for spinal ailments. This stone is believed to have strong anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties for bruises. It is used for epilepsy and rheumatism. Its use is indicated for nervous exhaustion. All zodiac signs can be worn in a ring or pendant in silver or gold, depending on your metal.
Nephritis.

One of the sacred symbols of Ancient China; its meaning corresponds to the general tradition of lithophany. Jade is considered the focus of cosmic strength, energy, power; it acts as a symbol of perfection and various virtues (humanity, justice, sincerity, wisdom, etc.). In Confucianism, the head of the heavenly hierarchy is called Yu Huangdi - the Jade (in other versions - Pearl) emperor. The emperor's attribute was a jade seal, which served as a sign of the "trust of heaven" (Tian Ming), that is, a symbol of the divine nature of the imperial power, exercised by the will of heaven.
In Taoism, jade is also given a special place among the minerals. Jade belongs to the masculine principle - yang and thus to the sky. For this reason, it was considered to protect the body from decay and give eternal life and was used in Taoist alchemy to obtain the elixir of immortality. According to Taoist legends, the jade source (yaoshui) is located in the abode of the immortals, the earthly paradise. Also, being endowed with the status of a "pure" element, jade was used in purification rites. It was widely used in ritual symbolism in China; its shades, ranging from cream to dark green, add additional connotations to the overall symbolism of the mineral. For example, bi, a disc of light green jade with a hole in the middle (the image of absolute emptiness), was a symbol of the sky; zong - a square plate of sandy-yellow jade with a round hole inside, where a cylindrical stick (the image of the world axis) was inserted - a symbol of earth. Gongs used in rituals were made from jade.
The entire genus of jade is considered to be stones-healers, guardians and defenders from corruption. Jade, jadeite, jade are related stones, from greenish to white, pinkish, blue, orange.
The color of jade ranges from gray to grassy green, and can be yellow, blue and black. The color intensity varies depending on the content of iron oxides in the mineral.
The main stone is white jade. White and yellow are very rare jade. Jade are warrior stones. Jade is associated with Venus, Saturn and the Moon. Of all the signs of Air, jade is good only for Aquarius, who is capable of transcendental transformation. Green jade is more suitable for Capricorns. Libra is good for white (medical) nephritis. Red-brown jade is associated with the sign of Virgo, yellow is associated with water signs. For fire signs - red jade.
Blue Jade is not associated with any sign. Darkening jade is a harbinger of misfortune... This suggests that you persist in your delusions and sins and that you can no longer be corrected. Perhaps misfortune is hanging over you - know this. This stone is an indicator of your spiritual growth. Least of all, jade is shown to Taurus and Sagittarius - it is bad for them. Blue is best worn by Aquarius and all air signs, except for Libra, for them - white jade. Until now, in China, it is called a clot of love and they believe that the stone of spirits gives sweet dreams, victory over dark forces both outside and inside a person, preserves beauty, protects against diseases.
Western alchemy also recognized jade as a magic stone, especially blue jade. Blue jade is the rarest, most noble type of jade. It is associated with a complete transcendental transformation of a person. Jade is associated with complete external (rejuvenation) and internal restructuring, with a victory over your subconscious essence. This stone is associated with religion and at the same time with the restructuring of all life. Jade can only be worn by those people who are trying to completely change their lives, to rise to a completely new, unique level, to remake, to rebuild.
Jade is also called the "yu stone" - that is, the one that bestows mercy, wisdom and modesty. Jade - translated from Spanish means "stone of the waist". The fact is that this stone has amazing viscosity and keeps heat for a very long time. Therefore, it was heated and used as a heating pad. Light nephritis is especially good for kidney diseases. It is worn throughout the year on the lower back, while chronic pain and other symptoms completely disappear. The Aztecs considered jade sacred, made talismans and masks from it, which not only protected from harm, but also allowed them to safely communicate with spirits. In China and Tibet, jade talismans were hung around the necks of children to protect them from illness, and if a difficult task was ahead, then its participants never did without jade rosary. It was also considered the stone of eternal love. A jade butterfly is the key to eternal happiness in love. Jade has the ability to smooth the face, therefore ancient cosmetologists applied jade plaques on the face of beauties after massage.
Men preferred to smoke pipes with jade stems, since this stone can neutralize poisonous smoke. It is known that Genghis Khan treats jade with great respect, even his personal seal was made in the form of a jade figurine of a lying tiger.
The throne of the Chinese emperor was carved from jade, noble people ate from jade dishes, jade rings served as a symbol of prestige. Many diseases were treated with jade powder in China. Avicenna treated stomach ailments with nephritis. In Central Asia, the tomb of Tamerlane is closed by a tombstone made of black-green jade, which, according to popular beliefs, was supposed to protect it from desecration. Jade melts with difficulty, acids do not act on it, it has high fracture toughness and does not lend itself to abrasion. In the workshop of one of the Krupp factories in Germany, they tried to smash a block of jade on an anvil with a steam hammer; the attempt ended with the anvil falling apart under the blows of the hammer, and the lump remained intact.
The thin weaves of crystal fibers make jade twice as strong as steel. Primitive people made knives, axes, arrowheads and spearheads from jade. In China, jade was considered a national stone and was valued so highly that plaques were made from it, which were in circulation on a par with coins, and paired jade plates served as a passport for the emperor's envoys. Emerald green jade was valued the most.
Jade always feels warm and pleasant to the touch. Medicinal properties: white nephritis reduces renal colic and liver pain. Sharpens hearing and vision. Red jade regulates the heartbeat. Mystical properties: jade strengthens strength, gives longevity, worn as a talisman drives away failures and misfortunes, helps single people. Blue or green jade conquers evil in a person, makes him change for the better. Possesses strong energy. Promotes happy changes, breaks the dead end. This is a stone of single people, they always need to wear it as a talisman. Jade is a sacred stone of ancient China and other eastern states, it was used in the treatment of a number of diseases, it protected from lightning strikes and encouraged others to remain faithful to its owner. Jade is an "indicator" of behavior - if it becomes cloudy and then darkens, therefore, it convicts you of your sins.
Additionally.
In oriental practices and poetry, the expressions "jade trunk", "jade gates" are used as a description of the male and female genital organs.
Ruboko Sho "Komachi Nights, or Cicada Time"
***
For birds
Meetings are not destined
Nothing compares to you
Clean and transparent
Jade lips depth
***
Yes, I am three years old
I let myself be deceived by the fox
What does my jade trunk look like?
Oh God! Dark Shijimi
Seashells river.
Onyx.

Onyx is an agate with plane-parallel layers of various colors, usually white and black or dark gray. Onyx in translation from the Arabic language "onyx" means sorrow, grief. Varieties: onyx - agate with alternating plane-parallel layers of different colors; according to the color of the layers, they are distinguished: Arabian onyx (or onyx itself) - the layers are black and white; carneolonics - red and white; sardonyx - brown and white; chalcedonyx - gray and white; onyx agate - gray in various shades (this variety is rarely distinguished). As an ornamental and facing stone, onyx was known in Ancient Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. In Rome, it was used for inlay and mosaics. According to legend, in Jerusalem, in the temple of Solomon, the walls did not have windows, but they let in enough light, being made of this stone. In the Gur-Emir mausoleum in Samarkand, interior decoration was made from it.
In ancient times, in Babylon and Ancient Egypt, onyx was used, for the most part, as a building and facing material. And in Rome, mosaics were made with it.
A large chalice (church chalice for communion), carved from onyx, is kept in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.It was brought from Rome to Novgorod in 1106 and captured by Ivan the Terrible during the capture of Novgorod. In the Middle Ages, onyx was attributed to extremely contradictory properties: it was considered an unlucky stone and inspired terrible dreams, but at the same time, onyx facilitated childbirth, inspired respect for the owner, encouraged him to courageous deeds and increased income. According to a Georgian manuscript of the 10th century, onyx can only be found by a person pure in heart and sinless in thoughts. Biruni, investigating the properties of onyx, writes: in China, they believe that wearing onyx brings a lot of worries, and if you hang it around children’s neck, they will start drooling; a drinker from an onyx bowl suffers from insomnia. This is a post from an unknown person from an untrustworthy book.
If this were so, the Arabs would not have worshiped onyx and would not have dedicated poems to it, in which beauties are compared to onyx. The unfavorable properties of onyx in the Middle Ages included the fact that onyx contributes to terrible dreams with ghosts and dark visions, troubles arise around its owner, he is drawn into litigation and fights, and also that it causes salivation in children.
Even in the 16th century, Gerolamo Cardano said that in India, onyx was worn around the neck to cool the fervor of love. This coincided with the idea of ​​onyx as a stone separating lovers. Indian astrology believes that onyx is useful to any person because it concentrates bioenergy and draws out diseases. According to Eliphas Levi, onyx is also considered a very useful stone - it soothes pain, it is placed for relief on inflamed areas to the tumor.
In terms of its healing functions, onyx is like a cat - it should be placed on the area of ​​the human body that causes discomfort, and the stone will relieve pain. So, for example, during colic, it is necessary to attach the onyx to the stomach and relax. Wearing onyx strengthens human memory and sharpens hearing, and onyx, set in silver, heals insomnia and various heart diseases.
This "stone of fighters" makes it possible to concentrate energy in oneself. Makes a person self-confident, makes it possible to insist on something, to defend their interests with perseverance. This is a stone of scrupulous, purposeful people, it will provide them with consolidation in the positions they have reached. Onyx is useful for Aries, as well as for all earth signs - Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus. It is of great medical importance - a “concentrator” stone and can “pull out” diseases. Most of all, it is contraindicated for Gemini. Onyx contains the forces of Mars, Mercury and Venus.
Wearing onyx sharpens your hearing. Strengthens memory. Set in silver, it helps with pain in the heart, cures insomnia. Onyx endows its owner with the gift of eloquence, and black onyx contributes to the development of entrepreneurship and a desire for enrichment in its owner.

O fell.

Opal is a gemstone, a sign of foresight and friendship. Due to its rainbow color, this stone is revered as a symbol of hope. Opal is a stone of the Moon and Neptune, in astrology it is associated with the month of October and with the sign of Libra. In Latin, the name of this mineral comes from the Sanskrit language and literally means "precious stone". In most cases, opal is colorless and has an opaque structure with impurities of dull shades. Sunlight has an extraordinary effect on opal, causing a play of colors. There are three types of opal - white opal, fire opal (deep red stone) and black opal.
Opal, like other precious and semiprecious stones, has been attributed to mystical properties since ancient times. The paradox of this stone is that, being a symbol of hope, it is considered an unlucky stone for everyone except those born in October. There are many stories of misfortune and even death that befell those who did not rightfully wear it. For hundreds of years, the disgrace was followed by notoriety. It was considered a symbol of secret passions and inconstancy (with prolonged exposure to the sun, opal dehydrates and loses its iridescence), a stone of deceiving hopes and illusions.
The story tells that fearing trouble, the English king Edward VII replaced opals in his crown with rubies. It is also stated that during Napoleon's exile, the famous opal "Fire of Troy", which belonged to Josephine Beauharnais, disappeared without a trace. According to legend, he seemed to disappear into thin air, destroying himself. Due to these rumors, Vienna jewelers lost many buyers in their time. In the 17th century, a large opal in a gold setting fell into the treasury of the Spanish kings. And then misfortunes fell on the reigning house: the heir died, the flotilla of ships laden with gold sank, etc. To prevent further troubles, the beautiful opal was handed over to the clergy of the monastery in Almeida, who hung the stone in front of the image of the Madonna.
It was believed that opal is a stone of melancholic people, but possessing high and pure thoughts. In addition, it is a stone of dreamers and dreamers living in a world of illusions and unrealizable hopes.... For business people, down to earth, it is not suitable. People who are nervous, with an unstable character, should also not wear opal. It is believed that the owner of this stone acquires the gift of prophecy. However, opal will bring success only to a noble and strong person who has overcome selfishness and a passion for profit. For evil and selfish people, opal becomes a stone of evil: it gives rise to suspicion, causes quarrels, fear, nightmares. For a long period of time, superstitious people considered opal to be a misfortune stone and therefore did not wear it. But in ancient times, he symbolized various religious motives, as well as loyalty and security. In the East, black opals have always been considered extremely lucky stones. They protected against infectious diseases, calmed nerves, helped with fainting, returned visual acuity and shine to the eyes.
Opal treats mainly indolent chronic diseases. As a remedy, opal is able to calm the nerves, prevent fainting, as well as treat heart disease and restore visual acuity to a person. For these purposes, it is recommended to wear it in gold on the index finger of the right hand (only those born in October).
Sapphire.

Sapphire is a stone of fidelity, a symbol of chastity and modesty, which brings divine favor, happiness and peace. Translated from Greek "sapphire" literally means "blue stone". In astrology, sapphire personifies September as a symbol of clarity of thought, and the sign of Taurus, symbolizing divine favor, happiness and peace. The color of the stone is varied: there are green, yellow, orange and colorless sapphires.
Gemstones have always been highly prized, not only in their own right, but also as symbols for the supernatural or healing properties they were believed to possess. Sapphire was considered the most "spiritual" of all stones and with its blueness signified heavenly bliss. It is no coincidence, according to the Bible, that the heavenly throne is made of sapphires. The ancient Persians believed that the blueness of the sky comes from the giant sapphire on which the Earth rests.
Sapphire was also a symbol of firm faith and protected its owner from betrayal. Buddhists believe that this stone is capable of opening locked doors and dwellings for the human spirit. But those who wear it must lead a holy life for this.
According to historical sources, some rulers of past years wore sapphire rings. So, it is known that Alexander the Great had a similar decoration, as well as Mary Stuart. In the Middle Ages, sapphire was called the "bishop's stone" because, according to popular beliefs, it was a symbol of the highest spiritual values ​​of man. In addition, sapphire was considered a stone of wisdom, power and loyalty, helped to strengthen a person's prudence, thereby cooling his passion. It was also believed that sapphire helps prevent discord and bestows eternal life on its owner. But only altruists could feel the result of the impact of this stone, for people who think only of themselves, this stone would hardly help in any way. It is also important to consider that a sapphire with a damaged structure can be very dangerous to humans.
In ancient times, a large number of medicinal properties were attributed to sapphire. So, for example, it is able to help a person with cardiovascular diseases, heal various diseases of the skin and spine, and also be useful for rheumatism, diabetes and bleeding. Another equally important property of this stone is getting rid of insomnia, helping with various allergic reactions and providing a calming effect.
Additionally:
Contrary to popular belief, sapphires are not only blue. Wonderful yellow sapphires are mined in Australia, and green varieties are also found in Queensland. In the Sri Lankan mines, pink and purple sapphires are mined, as well as rare stones of two or more colors.
The best shade of sapphire is cornflower blue. and such blue velvet-like specimens from Kashmir are the rarest and most prestigious. High prices are also charged for stones that lie near the village of Palin in Cambodia, near the border with Thailand. High quality sapphires are mined in Burma (Myanmar), Thailand and Tanzania, while dark blue stones with a metallic luster are found in Montana (USA).
For many centuries, all blue stones were called sapphires, and therefore it is now quite difficult to determine which of the legends tell about the particular stone that is known by this name.

Topaz.

Topaz is a semi-precious stone. Associated with celestial bodies - planets
Pluto and Mercury. Topaz owes its name to the small island of Topazion in the Red Sea, where sailors found beautiful gems. This stone was highly prized in the ancient world. The color of topaz is very diverse. There are purple, pink, golden topaz, but the most common topaz, which does not have color.
Topaz was considered a stone for courtiers and businessmen. In ancient times, it was believed that, possessing topaz, one can win the favor of the mighty of this world and become rich. Going on a long journey with a certain mission, for the success of the enterprise, it was necessary to take topaz as a talisman. This stone made it possible to predict the plans and actions of a business partner, promptly prompting the right decisions. It is also a stone for revealing secrets, a stone for forensic scientists and psychologists. He develops intuition, warns of the intentions of enemies. But topaz is contraindicated for family people, because it can destroy family happiness.
Topaz has its own medicinal properties. Set in silver, it relieves asthma attacks, and is useful for diseases of the spine, anemia and epilepsy. Topaz also helps to increase the effectiveness of various treatments for chronic diseases. Like many other precious stones, topaz protects a person from insanity and the evil eye, restores healthy sleep. It is believed that men wearing topaz will be endowed with wisdom, intelligence and prudence, and for women it will bring beauty and fertility. An equally important belief is also believed that topaz brings wealth. In ancient times, it was believed that he cures infertility and liver diseases, heals insanity, helps with myopia, gives strength to the weak, and wisdom to all people together.
Tourmaline.

Tourmaline (lit. "multi-colored") is a talisman stone. Associated with the zodiac sign Scorpio and the celestial bodies Pluto and Venus. Cherry red, green, blue or colorless transparent stone. This is a male stone. For the stronger sex, he brings victory in love or the opportunity to assert himself in a different field. The island of Ceylon is considered the birthplace of tourmalines, from where this stone was brought to Europe by Dutch sailors. Tourmaline comes in many varieties. So, there are colorless tourmalines or achroites, pink or rubellites, blue, otherwise called dravites or indigovites, black or sherl, green or verdelites, as well as yellow or elbaites and brown, otherwise called burgherites. Associated with the transformation of sexual energy, tourmaline increases potency. Cherry tourmaline is especially good for these purposes. Men who doubt their manhood should wear a tourmaline ring when going on a date.
There is a belief that tourmaline, like a spiritual stone, is able to develop a person's creative abilities and protect people of art from all kinds of dangers. So, green tourmaline has always been considered a talisman of creative people, and red has patronized artists. Moreover, red tourmaline is believed to always bring success in love and personal happiness to men, as well as increase their bioenergy. However, you should not wear tourmaline all the time, as it can cause unhealthy sexual thoughts.
Chalcedony.

Chalcedony is a semi-precious stone. The most famous varieties of chalcedony are sardonyx and carnelian. Carnelian (carnelian) is a stone of the heavenly bodies of the Sun and Venus. In ancient times, carnelian was credited with magical properties. On many mummies of Egypt (including Tutankhamun), various carnelian amulets were found - to protect the dead in the other world. Carnelian is a stone of the color of blood, the color of life, in connection with which the ancient peoples of the East attributed to it the ability to protect the living from death and disease, to bring love and happiness. It was believed that it bestows wealth, improves health, cheers up, soothes anger, but, above all, it is a stone of happy love. In Russia, carnelian was also very popular. It was considered an extremely happy and healing stone, bringing happiness in love, promoting kinship of souls. If you have a real feeling, and not a temporary hobby, then the stone in your hands becomes brighter when you look at your loved one. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that this stone was able to defeat black magic, protect against ill will, and prevent quarrels. The mystics believed that carnelian protects them from the waste of magical energy and vitality.
In medical terms, it is practically a universal stone that creates a large healing field around itself. It was believed that it enhances the body's immune properties, pacifies fevers, strengthens teeth, helps with childbirth, and treats many women's diseases. In the form of beads, carnelian is useful in diseases of the thyroid gland. Pink-orange in beads and earrings is most suitable for women, red in a ring for men.
Sardonyx is a yellow-brown and reddish-brown variety of chalcedony. Astrologically corresponds to the planet Uranus in the signs of the earth. It helps to get rid of fears of the future, protects a person on trips and travels. Promotes rejuvenation, prolongs life. The ancients believed that this stone gives protection from love spells, helps to protect oneself from infidelity and betrayal. In case of fractures, it helps the fusion of bones. Dark sardonyx (male), when worn on the body, assists in the rapid healing of ulcers and wounds. Light (female) promotes conception.
Chrysoberyl.

Chrysoberyl is a stone of the heavenly bodies of Neptune and Venus. Transparent stone of golden yellow color. Especially appreciated are the varieties of cymophane stones - stones with the "cat's eye" effect. The name of this gem is composed of two: chrysolite and beryl. Initially, this was the name of a variety of beryl, and topaz was actually chrysolite. Chrysoberyl varies in color from pale yellow to brown. This variation is explained by the admixture of one or another chemical element. So, a mineral of a pale yellowish-green hue owes its color to the presence of iron in its composition. Chrysoberyl is rarely used in the manufacture of various jewelry, although it is highly durable and is very suitable for this type of work. Despite this, chrysoberyl was previously very popular, since the slightly cloudy shade of this mineral gave the effect of a "cat's eye". This name is explained by the color structure of the stone and the type of processing. Thus, a cabochon-cut stone resembles a cat's eye when light passes through its uneven upper part. This phenomenon is the reason for this name.
Gives peace and peace of mind, strengthens family relationships. Good for people striving for marriage, especially on mature reflection - it attracts potential brides and grooms.
Crystal.

Crystal (from the Greek "crystal", translated "ice": it was believed that crystals were formed under the influence of cold), like precious stones, is a symbol of spirit and intellect, as well as perfect virtue. Transparent crystals of colorless quartz have attracted people since antiquity. Its value lies in its transparency and similarity to the two foundations of life - water and air. It is the purity, transparency and coldness of the mineral that made it a symbol of innocence and constancy, modesty and chastity, fidelity and purity of thoughts.
It is also an image of harmony in nature, since the transparency of a substance appears as the embodiment of the unity of opposites: crystal can be perceived simultaneously as existing and non-existent. It is an obstacle on the path of bodies, but not on the path of gaze, and this last property was interpreted symbolically as the ability of crystal to reflect and show to a person events distant in space and time. In Christianity, crystal was associated with the Virgin Mary. In ancient Greek myths, gods, heroes and kings drink mostly from crystal goblets. In ancient times, it was believed that this mineral expels diseases from the water. In Tibet, when healing wounds, monks apply crystal balls to the wounds so that the sun's rays fall through the stone to the affected area. It was found that when ultraviolet rays pass through the crystal, bacteria die, which in turn contributes to the speedy healing of wounds.
Fortune telling by a magic crystal - that is, a sphere of rock crystal (similarly - on the surface of water, mirrors, polished metals)- accentuated the property of transparent or “reflective” objects to act as a “communication channel” with the other world. Beyond their boundaries, beyond their surface, it was as if a region of supernatural existence was opening up to man. Glass acted in a similar function. In addition, crystal was used for meditation.
Since ancient times, it is believed that crystal endows its owner with the gift of clairvoyance. It is believed that crystal placed under the pillow saves a person from nightmares, relieves insomnia and unreasonable fears. If a person wears crystal in a ring set in silver, then it is believed that this mineral relieves the owner of the stone from the danger of freezing in severe frosts or getting heatstroke in the heat.
There are several varieties of rock crystal, and each affects a person in its own way. Smoky crystal arouses fantasy, but distorts the idea of ​​reality. Astrologers claim that it should be worn by people born under the signs of Air (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini) and under the signs of Water (Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio). The signs of the Earth (Capricorn, Aquarius, Virgo) should only wear it if they suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction - smoky crystal cures these serious diseases. It is completely contraindicated to wear this stone for Capricorns and Sagittarius. People born under these signs are already prone to excessive imagination - smoky crystal will make them real liars.
Black crystals of rhinestone help the wearer to communicate with the souls of the dead. This stone can only be worn by people born under the sign of Scorpio.
Crystals with opaque needle-shaped inclusions are called "Cupid's arrows", with fibrous inclusions - the hair of Venus. The very name of these stones speaks of their purpose - to attract love and happiness. As a talisman, crystals of rock crystal attract love, joy of life, sympathy of other people, good luck, peace of mind and well-being to the owner.
Zircon.

Zircon is a semi-precious stone. Associated with the planet Saturn, is a sign of fire. The name "zircon" comes from the Persian word zargun - golden color. Zircon is zirconium silicate, a colorless or yellow transparent mineral often used to imitate diamonds. The color of minerals is red, brown, golden yellow, yellowish green, blue, smoky, golden red, black. He tries to imitate the greatest of precious stones - a diamond in color and properties.
In ancient India and in several other countries, zircon was used as a magic remedy to prevent unwanted pregnancies. In ancient magical rites, zircon was used as a tool capable of evoking supernatural powers in a person, such as clairvoyance. Zircon protects people born under the sign of Aquarius. Zircon is the talisman of people doing business. Jewelry with zircon, charmed for merchant luck, since ancient times served as talismans in the conclusion of commercial transactions. It is also considered the talisman of criminologists, judges, all people trying to expose deceptions and scams.
It is believed that zircon helps with coronary heart disease and stimulates the thyroid gland and liver. Blue stones are sometimes used in the treatment of obesity. Zircon is also useful for depression, general depression and hopelessness, it heals all types of neurasthenia, gives its owner the missing energy and helps to overcome constant fear and fear. Zircon deprives a person of unnecessary doubts, torments, bestows indestructible conceit and self-confidence - big ambitions from scratch. Zircon is dangerous because it can make its owner vain and selfish.
Spinel.

Spinel (lal). The stone of the celestial bodies - the Sun, Venus, Jupiter.
The stone is scarlet or pink. The name of this stone came to us from the Latin language, where the word spinella meant a small thorn. This is due to the appearance of the stone, the shape of the crystals of which was extremely sharpened. The leading shade of spinel is red, but stones are more common, the color of which is not uniform. So, distinguish between violet-red, orange-red and pink-red spinels. Spinels of other shades are less common. For example, yellow, blue, green and black. Red lal (ruby spinel), transparent and pure, resembles a ruby, sometimes surpasses it in beauty, but inferior to it in hardness: it is erased in the corners and edges. It is good to wear spinel for the signs of Venus - Taurus, Libra and Pisces (Venus is in exaltation). This is truly one of the best Pisces stones.
Spinel is one of the favorite stones of Fortune, known since ancient times. It was believed that this mineral bestows happiness in love, wealth and affection for others. Moreover, all the benefits go to a person by themselves, without any participation on his part. However, it should be remembered that lal is a changeable and capricious stone, like Fortune itself, and it must be handled carefully and carefully. Spinel especially promotes love, money, sleep, relaxation, daydreaming, after which very great unhappiness often comes. Spinel can contribute to the formation of physical illness, especially metabolic disorders and liver disease.
Lal is associated with the energies of Venus, Sun and Jupiter. It promises misfortune for Aquarius - the Russian people cannot wear it. It is also bad for Cancers - it makes them lazy, helps to avoid the struggle. If treated well, it will attract women. The stone of love and art promotes good relations with you. He guards any person with a child's soul, with a child's soul, with a spotless reputation. And spinel can take everything away from you, as soon as you start sinning, philosophizing, dissembling. Spinel manifests itself in the fact that it spreads softly, but it is very hard to sleep in the end. If the ruby ​​is associated with the primary fire, then the spinel - with the primary air - with what unites people and sometimes manifests itself as a flash of magnesium, like lightning.
Spinel is best perceived by Libra. For Virgo, black spinel is good - pleonast. Spinel is related to Venus, especially if it interacts with Uranus in some way. Lal allows you to repel any perverts, rapists. It turns out that spinel opposes malachite, which, on the contrary, attracts rapists. Of the medicinal properties, it was believed that lal has general strengthening qualities, has a beneficial effect on vision, relieves back pain.
Amber.

Amber is a golden yellow petrified fossil resin, highly prized already in prehistoric times; it is worn as a decoration to protect against witches, magic and poisons. The name "amber" (English amber) comes from the late Latin word ambar, which in turn comes from the Arabic anbar. The name "bastard amber" is given to the opaque material. Wearing amber is not contraindicated for anyone except Taurus. Most of all, amber is good for Leo - it cleanses and strengthens them.
Amber is never worn in silver, but only in copper or in copper alloys with a high content of it. Or amber in its pure form, for example, in the form of a necklace. It should be worn as close to the neck as possible. Red amber is a type of amber that is more suitable for magic. Amber becomes magical only when insects are in it. The most interesting is the one in which the scorpions are found. This is a stone of magical cleansing, protection from the effects of magical deeds. The forces of the Sun and Venus are present in amber. Amber should not be red-hot, otherwise it will lose all its strength completely. Also has medical significance. It is a universal purifier for our body. If it is worn for a long time on the body, astral slags are removed through the amber, and the purification of the physical body is also achieved. As a jewel and amulet, only pearls are older than amber. The Phoenicians traded in amber a lot. The ancient Romans used amber as a remedy for headaches and infections and believed that a phallus made of amber was the best protection against the evil eye. It is also believed that amber brings good luck and preserves health. It is believed that it helps women in their affairs, protects from the strong sun, corrects weakened vision, helps with pain in the ear and with diseases of the intestines and kidneys. Jet, or black amber, has the same properties. In Iceland, jet is used as an amulet to protect its owner. In medieval Europe, jet was burned to drive out evil spirits.
Even in the pre-Christian period, our ancestors believed that in pieces of amber in small depressions, spirits find habitats, and therefore they were very highly valued. In antiquity in Italy, amber products were widespread, either pear-shaped, or in the form of a ram's head or cowrie shells as talismans that ensure fertility and successful hunting. Especially popular were amber figurines depicting fruits, cereals and animals as New Year's gifts. In the Middle Ages, amber rosary and other objects of religious worship were in great demand; Patriarch Nikon had an amber staff. Among the Greeks, giving amber meant wishing happiness. This stone is the bearer of victory: it gives victory in battle, therefore, most of the amber items in burials are battle amulets.
Amber was proclaimed a panacea for all diseases in ancient times; Medicinal white amber was especially appreciated by connoisseurs. It was believed that there are practically no such diseases from which this gem would not bring healing. It treats myopia and cataracts, heart ailments and sore throat, stops vomiting and hemoptysis, expels kidney and liver stones, and aids urination. Amber strengthened the abdominal organs, and drunk in the form of a powder with water healed stomach ailments; pounded with rose oil or honey helped with diseases of the eyes and ears, healed cracked legs. With the help of amber, one can supposedly detect poison: an iridescent flicker of sparks appears in the glass, accompanied by a crackle. Amber is a stone of health, happiness and the sun, a love amulet that can attract the object of his sighs to the owner of the gem. According to the psychological influence of color on a person, orange (amber) is an exciting and expansive color, amusing and invigorating, cheerful and hot, but not intimate.
Amber was used for fainting (amber oil with ammonia), against dizziness and bleeding, suppuration and swelling, severe cough and consumption, seizures, hysteria and hypochondria, healed and prevented a number of female and colds, strengthened loose teeth. It was believed that amber saves from dementia and suffocation, fever and jaundice, helps with deafness and improper metabolism, poisoning and joint diseases, spasms, whooping cough and colic in children. It was believed that it protects against evil spells, the evil eye, diseases.
Amber has always been considered by different peoples as an anti-demonic amulet. There was a belief that by hiding an amber bead in the folds of a baby's clothes, one could resist evil forces.
In Scotland, it was believed that witches and evil spirits were driven away by amber beads collected without fail on a red thread. In the old days, in the rich houses of Russia and Poland, nannies and nursing mothers were required to put a heavy amber necklace around their necks. It was believed that it not only makes the child's skin dull and clean, but also protects him "from the evil eye" and evil spirits, does not let anything wrong from the nurse to the child and bring him strength and health. Amber has long been used in the East as an adornment for brides; in Russia, amber beads were also worn on brides in front of the crown. It was believed that amber will help make a young family happy, while at the same time it gives beauty and longevity to its owners.