Emerald City

"Ring the bell! The wicked witch is dead!"

Judy Garland sings this in the film "The Wizard of Oz" as she makes a triumphant return to the mystical Emerald City, a magical town where everything shines green.

Throughout history, emeralds have been associated with fantastical impressions and stories.

According to 12th-century legend, the legendary alchemist Hermes Trismegistus inscribed the secrets of alchemy on an emerald tablet, and copies of these tablets were revered by intellectuals such as Newton.

A surviving example is the Sacro Catino, displayed in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Genoa. This hexagonal dish, about 50 cm in diameter, is deep green and was once believed to be made of emerald. It is said to have been a gift from the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon and to have been used at Christ's Last Supper.

So what is the appeal of emeralds, which are spoken of in numerous legends as being associated with mystery and fantasy?

First of all, emeralds have a rich variety of expressions as minerals. Most emerald crystals contain injections. The breath of the earth, which appears in various forms depending on the source, gives a sense of the grand scale on which the gemstone has been nurtured over many years.

The most attractive feature of emeralds is their rich green color. The tranquil green hue, which varies from one to another depending on its shade and transparency, gives them a soft impression not found in rubies or sapphires.

The ancient Roman naturalist Pliny praised the green of emeralds in every possible way:

"Compared to all other colours, there is no colour more gentle to the eyes. We look with delight at the grass and green branches; but when we look at an emerald, we are filled with boundless delight, because of its incomparable depth of green. Moreover, emerald is the only gem which delights the eyes without tiring them. When our eyes are tired from overuse, looking at an emerald restores them. For the jeweller, nothing is more effective than the relief offered by this gentle green brilliance."

Emeralds have been said to be mystical in many places throughout history, providing soothing meditative moments for those in power and those aspiring to seek out new things.

At the end of The Wizard of Oz, it is revealed that the Wizard of Oz, the master of the Emerald City and said to have the power to make all wishes come true, was actually just a human being.

One of the themes of this work is the power of belief. He has deceived people up until now, but he uses his "magic" to give the three friends of the main character, Dorothy, what they wanted. Of course, in reality, it was just an illusion, but the three friends, who believed in the "magic," were overjoyed that their wishes had come true.

Of course, we all know that emeralds don't have the unrealistic powers that have been portrayed throughout history. However, if you actually wear this gentle green gemstone, you will understand why it has been loved and spoken of as mysterious throughout history.

More than facts, what you feel and what you believe is important. Sometimes it's important to follow the emotions that well up in your heart. What story will you find in the brilliance of emerald?