| Turquoise is a stone familiar and valued | | | | twelve gemstones on it, each one engraved |
| since 3000 B.C.E. Ancient Egyptians, | | | | with the name of one of the twelve tribes of |
| Persians, and Pre-Columbian Native Americans | | | | Israel. Some scholars believe that turquoise |
| used it to make jewelry, mosaics, and carved | | | | was one of these stones. |
| it into many different shapes. The stone was | | | | |
| unknown in Europe until the 14th century, | | | | The sacredness of turquoise for Native |
| when it was introduced by Turkish merchants. | | | | Americans goes back before recorded time. It |
| It is thought that the name of the stone was | | | | was carved into the shape of birds and |
| derived from the French word turc, which | | | | animals. Some tribes put these carved items |
| means Turk in English. This lead to the idea | | | | into tombs to help guard the dead and attract |
| that the stone itself was mined by the Turks | | | | good spirits. The Shaman used turquoise for |
| in their homeland. This is not true. The | | | | healing. Warriors attached the stone to the |
| Turks were only merchants that dealt in the | | | | ends of their bows, for it was thought to |
| stone. | | | | ensure accurate arrow shots. |
| | | | |
| Rich deposits of turquoise mined in ancient | | | | Although robin egg blue is the most familiar |
| times were located in Persia (modern day | | | | and most highly valued color for the stone, |
| Iran), and some of the highest quality | | | | it can be sky blue, various shades of |
| turquoise is still being mined there today. | | | | blue-green, to greenish gray. It is not |
| The stone is also found in Northern Africa, | | | | always a solid color, and can have gradations |
| Australia, Siberia, and the American South | | | | of color within individual stones. Some |
| West. | | | | stones have veins of other material running |
| | | | through them. |
| The Sacred Stone | | | | |
| | | | A very high quality turquoise can be |
| Turquoise has been a sacred stone for many | | | | expensive, but there are many beautiful |
| cultures. The Aztecs combined it with gold in | | | | stones available at a reasonable price. While |
| ceremonial items. Some cultures believed that | | | | this stone has been used and appreciated by |
| if a horse rider wore the stone it would | | | | royalty and the rich through the ages, it has |
| protect them from falling off. It is a stone | | | | also been available and appreciated by people |
| credited with bringing happiness and | | | | in more common circumstances. And it remains |
| protection from accidents of all kinds, and | | | | the same to this day. A stone for all who |
| with many other attributes. The stone is also | | | | appreciate its beauty, and its |
| thought to be one of the stones that make up | | | | afford-ability. It is indeed The People's |
| the breastplate worn by Aaron in the book of | | | | Stone. |
| Exodus of the bible. This breastplate had | | | | |