Sapphire

The precious stone sapphire with its bright blue pigmentation has been named after the Ancient Greek word Sapphirus, meaning blue. Because of the blue appearance of the sky, many ancient Greeks believed that the sky was a reflection of the giant sapphire in which the world was placed upon. Sapphires would have been carved in the shape of amulets or used for insets in jewellery. In Classical traditions sapphires were also believed to contain the power of protection from poisoning and envy.