“O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones" (Isaiah 54:11–12 RSV).

Did you know that the Bible is full of references to crystals and gemstones? This is just one of over a hundred Bible verses that mention precious stones. In this verse, the Prophet Isaiah is using the metaphor of gemstones to convey the strength, prosperity, and protection that God provides those who have faith in him. Perhaps the most interesting and well-known verse about gemstones can be found in the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation is an enigmatic read, filled with visionary accounts of the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. The final two chapters, 21 and 22, are said to metaphorically describe the heavenly realm, and it is where we find mention of a future holy city. This city made of gold was described as having twelve stones in the foundation.

What are the Twelve Foundation Stones?

Revelation 21:19–20 reads, "The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst."

There’s debate among experts today about the accuracy of this list of foundation stones. This is because the ancient names of gemstones don’t correspond with our modern mineral classifications. Instead of categorizing gemstones based on their crystalline forms and composition, like we do today, in ancient times stones were named based on their color, place of origin, or how they were used.

The International Gem Society published this list of the twelve foundation stones as the one they believe is the most accurate and correct version: garnet, amethyst, jasper, diamond, emerald, agate, turquoise, carnelian, chrysolite (peridot), beryl, topaz, and ruby.

Each article in this series will cover the geological properties, historical uses, and metaphysical qualities of one foundation stone. This month, it’s all about the seventh foundation stone, peridot (chrysolite).

Peridot: In biblical times, the name for peridot was chrysolite. Peridot is a semi-precious variety of the mineral olivine, which ranges in color from light chartreuse to dark olive green. Peridot gets its green coloration from the presence of iron in its chemical makeup. If the peridot has a deeper and more vivid green color, it has a higher iron content. Peridot on the pale, yellow-green end of the spectrum has less iron in it.

Peridot has very interesting origins. Most olivine crystals form deep inside the Earth’s mantle, under pressure and high temperatures. When volcanic or tectonic activity happens, rocks from the mantle that contain the olivine crystals are pushed toward the Earth’s surface. In this process, they cool and harden to become gem-quality peridot.

Ancient Aliens fans will be interested to know that a form of space peridot exists and sometimes rains upon the Earth in meteorite form. Pallasite meteorites are composed of yellow-green olivine in a nickel-iron matrix, and when sliced, they have the beautiful appearance of a stained-glass window. Meteorites are rarer than diamonds, and pallasites make up only 1 to 2% of all meteorites. It is believed that pallastites come from the core-mantle boundary of asteroids originating between Mars and Jupiter.

Peridot is a durable mineral with a hardness of 6.5-7. Higher-quality specimens can be transparent or translucent, making them ideal for jewelry. The best deposits are found in Egypt, Pakistan, Myanmar, the United States, China, Australia, and Vietnam. Today, Peridot is the August birthstone, but in ancient times it was assigned to September. It is also the 16th anniversary stone.

Historical Uses:

Peridot has a rich history of use dating back to 1500 B.C. According to ancient papyrus scrolls from Egypt, peridot was mined on an island in the Egyptian Red Sea called Topazo, which is called St. John’s Island or Zabargard today. The Egyptian kings favored peridot and forced the local inhabitants to mine it for their treasury. The island was closely guarded, and any trespassers who dared to set foot there were sentenced to death. The peridot was mined at night on this snake-infested island that was often shrouded in fog. The dazzling green gems would glow and become visible under the light of their lamps.

Peridot is the national gem of Egypt, and they named this esteemed green stone “The Gem of the Sun.” Historians now believe most of the emeralds in Cleopatra’s famous collection were deep green peridots. Egyptian priests held a belief that peridot was imbued with energy from nature. In rituals, they used cups embedded with peridot to communicate with nature gods and to promote healing. Ancient Egyptians also believed that peridot protected against evil spirits and sorcery.

During the Crusades, the most premium peridots were imported from Egypt to Europe. Presented as emeralds, they made their way into many church treasuries. Peridot symbolized spiritual purity and clarity, so it was a gem of choice for use in spiritual relics and churches. A noteworthy example is the Reliquary of the Magi in Cologne, Germany. It contains artifacts from the three wise men, and it is adorned with thousands of gemstones, including three large peridots weighing over 200 carats each. The Ancient Romans called peridot the “evening emerald” because its color would still shine and radiate in the glow of a candlelit night.

Peridot was used in German magical practices, and the magician Agrippa proclaimed that peridot would project a golden star when held in the sunlight. According to him, it was a remedy for the respiratory system and asthma. It was ground into powder and sold in apothecaries for this purpose and to cure insomnia, treat mental disorders, and stop bleeding. Peridot’s association with the sun also translated to a belief that it protected against all forms of evil. It was often fashioned into amulets and set in gold to increase prosperity and love.

In the volcanic landscape of Hawaii, there is an abundance of peridot. The sand on Papakolea Beach is green due to the olivine content. Peridot rained to the ground from active volcanoes and formed in the shape of teardrops. According to Hawaiian legend, peridot is the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess. Removing Pele’s tears from the landscape is believed to bring about bad luck.

Metaphysical Properties:

Today, peridot is regarded as a gemstone of warmth and positive energy that brings abundance, health, joy, emotional well-being, and Earth magic. It is an absolute treasure chest of appealing and beneficial energetic properties.

Peridot is a good luck stone that is said to generate the frequency of increase—increasing wealth, health, love, happiness, and all things good. It is a gem that blesses and fertilizes your projects while opening you to receive wonderful things. Since it carries the green and yellow rays, Peridot can align the heart and solar plexus chakras to assist in manifesting your true heart’s desire.

Peridot clears old emotions that get trapped in the body and negatively affect health. Work with it to release nervous tension, fear, guilt, jealousy, anger, and depression. Peridot can assist you in clearing and healing an addiction to nicotine, food, alcohol, or drugs. It helps you understand and overcome the emotional root causes of these behavioral patterns.

Peridot’s energy is inherently healing and energizing to the physical body. Placed between the heart and solar plexus, it can bring the vibration of your entire physical body to a higher level. This increases vitality and helps to boost the functioning of all organs and systems. Peridot assists the body in releasing toxins, regenerating tissue, and strengthening the immune system. It also has a healing effect on the digestive system, the heart, and the lungs. Peridot is a perfect choice for use in healing sessions, as it is known to amplify Reiki energy.

Peridot retains its ancient reputation as a stone that combats insomnia and protects against all forms of negative energy. It is still regarded as a stone that connects with nature, just as the Egyptian priests once believed. Peridot radiates the pure frequency of Mother Nature, which feels like an infusion of verdant jungles, teeming forests, and rich plant life. It is known to open a line of communication with the different Earth Kingdoms: the plants, animals, minerals, elementals, and fairies. It fosters a higher spiritual experience of unity with all lifeforms.

With its verdant hues, Peridot bestows warmth, positivity, and healing into the very foundation of the Heavenly City. It connects to the light of the sun, the glow of magma, and the mystique of meteorites—all the while promoting general well-being and living a happy, healthy, blessed life. Stay tuned for the next article in this series, which will dive into the history and properties of the fascinating foundation stone, beryl.