How are corals linked to wisdom and wealth? What powers were amulets made of this gem thought to possess? What are some of the many uses of coral?
Description of Gem
Coral, along with pearls, are the two organic (versus mineral) based gemstones recorded in the Bible.
Coral is formed from the hard skeletons of colonies of tiny marine animals called coral polyps. The skeletons are primarily composed of calcium carbonate.
This gem can be colored red, blue, violet, orange, pink, black and other colors.
Unlike reef-building coral, gem-quality coral comes from specific deep-water species that grow slowly in tree-like branches.
Sources
In modern times, the primary sources of coral are the Mediterranean Sea, Japan and Taiwan. The deep-water versions of this stone are found mainly in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
How Hard Is it?
Corals have a hardness of 3 to 4 on the Mohs scale. It is one of the least hard gems mentioned in the Bible, with only pearls (2.5 to 4.5) being less hard.
Biblical Occurrences
This organic gem is recorded, by name, twice total in two Biblical verses. They are mentioned on in the book of Job and once in Ezekiel.
Job, in his discourse concerning his trials, comments that wisdom was more valuable than precious metals or even rare corals!
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? . . . It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
No mention shall be made of coral (Hebrew ramah, Strong's #H7215), or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. (Job 28:12, 15, 18, KJV throughout).
Ezekiel 27 delineates many of the trading partners of ancient Tyre which shows her wealth and vast influence. One of these partners, Syria, provided high end goods like organic gemstones.
Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate. (Ezekiel 27:16).
Other Uses
Cabochons of imported turquoise and coral were used extensively in the silver and gold jewelry of Tibet and Mongolia.
Coral has been used in jewelry since ancient times. The ancient Romans, Egyptians, and others believed it offered protection, especially for children.
This organic gemstone has additionally been traditionally used to make cameos, figurines and beads. According to the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, the ancient Phoenicians used it to create beads to mount on collars and garments.
Facts and Folklore
The use of amulets was common among the ancient Greek and Romans. Their amulets were primarily formed of gems, crowns of pearls, necklaces of corals and so on. Athletes worn such amulets to insure victory. (On Superstitions Connected with the History and Practice of Medicine and Surgery, pages 66 - 67).
In the 16th century A.D., a rather unique amulet was worn which was thought to protect a person from the plague. This amulet, worn by no less than the pope, was made with corals and a dried toad!
"Quills of quicksilver were commonly worn about the neck as a preservative against the plague. The powder of toad was employed in a similar way. Pope Adrian (likely Pope Adrian VI who was pope from 1522 to 1523) is reported never to have been without it.
"The ingredients forming his amulet were dried toad, arsenic, tormentil, pearl, coral, hyacinth, smarag, and trafacanth." (On Superstitions Connected with the History and Practice of Medicine and Surgery, page 91).
Adrian was crowned pope at St. Peter's Basilica in August 1522. Fear of the plague kept many people from witnessing his elevation in ecclesiastical rank!
Coral was believed to give the wearer the ability to travel safely upon large expanses of water (Curious Lore of Precious Stones, pages 68 - 69).
This organic stone was also thought to cease the flow of blood from a wound, heal mental problems and provide wisdom. Corals, it was additionally thought, could combat evil spells (ibid.).
This gem is traditionally associated with protection, vitality, courage, and good fortune.
Coral, at one time, was also thought to protect against evil spirits and the "evil eye."
"Coral is a substance which was generally considered to possess the power of keeping off evil spirits and averting the baneful consequences of the Evil Eye." (On Superstitions Connected with the History and Practice of Medicine and Surgery, page 82).