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Most-Cherished Gemstones in the Medieval Arab World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2017

ZOHAR AMAR  and
EFRAIM LEV
ZOHAR AMAR
Affiliation:
Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan
EFRAIM LEV
Affiliation:
University of Haifaelev@univ.haifa.ac.il
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Abstract

In the medieval Arab world, gemstones were used as ornaments, set in jewellery, seals, and amulets, and also were investments and status symbols. As a result of the Arab conquests and their access to new regions, the distribution and use of gemstones underwent substantial changes. Our research pieces together information regarding the production, use, trade, tradition and cultural value of gemstones from early Arabic sources; this information is compared with material found in ancient Greek and Roman sources and also European sources from the medieval period.

The most valued stones were corundum, diamond, emerald and pearl. Other stones, such as turquoise, carnelian, garnet, onyx, lazurite and malachite, were less expensive and therefore more popular and common among the middle classes. Jasper, amethyst, and crystal were still cheaper and even more commonly-owned. In this article, we have chosen to present in detail the stories of two of the most exotic, expensive, and therefore most interesting gemstones: the diamond and the corundum.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , July 2017 , pp. 377 - 401
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 2017 

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