#sources of emerald gemstone

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Emerald Spectacles from India, c. 1620-1660 CE: the lenses of these spectacles were cut from a single emerald, and the original, uncut stone weighed more than 300 carats

These eyeglasses are also known by the name Astaneh-e ferdaws, meaning "Gate of Paradise," based on the symbolic associations between the color green and the concept of spiritual salvation or "paradise." Those associations, which are rooted in Islamic tradition, were especially common in Mughal India.

The lenses were crafted from two thin slices of the same emerald. Together, the lenses have a combined weight of about 27 carats, but given the precision, size, and shape of each lens, experts believe that the original emerald likely weighed in excess of 300 carats (more than sixty grams) before it was cleaved down in order to produce the lenses.

The emerald was found at a mine in Muzo, Colombia, and it was then transported across the Atlantic by Spanish or Portuguese merchants.

Each lens is encircled by rose-cut diamonds, which run along an ornate frame made of gold and silver. This diamond-studded frame was installed during the late 1800s, when modern stylistic elements were incorporated into the original pince-nez design.

The "Gate of Paradise" spectacles are often accompanied by a second pair of eyeglasses that were created during the same period, and they were almost certainly commissioned by the same person; these other spectacles are known by the name Halqeh-e nur, meaning "Halo of Light," and they feature lenses that were cleaved from a single diamond.

It's estimated that the original, uncut diamond weighed about 200-300 carats, which would make it one of the largest uncut diamonds ever discovered.

The lenses are so clear and so flat that they sometimes seem almost invisible.

Both sets of spectacles date back to the mid-1600s, and it's believed that they were commissioned by a Mughal emperor or prince. The identity of that person is still a bit of a mystery, but it has been widely speculated that the patron was Shah Jahan -- the Mughal ruler who famously commissioned the Taj Mahal after the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan ruled as the Mughal emperor from about 1628 to 1658.

The emerald and diamond lenses may have served some symbolic, sentimental, or cultural purpose, or they may have been chosen simply because they're pretty and extravagant. Their original purpose and significance remains unclear, but there is evidence to suggest that the spectacles were actually designed to be worn by someone.

Mystical properties have long been attributed to these spectacles; it's believed that they can promote healing, ward off evil, impart wisdom, and/or bring the wearer closer to enlightenment. Those beliefs mostly stem from Indic and Islamic traditions that associate each of the gemstones with specific spiritual qualities. Emeralds are associated with spiritual salvation, healing, cleansing, and eternal life, while diamonds are associated with enlightenment, wisdom, celestial light, and mysticism.

The "Gate of Paradise" and the "Halo of Light" spectacles were both kept in the collections of a wealthy Indian family until 1980, when they were sold to private collectors, and they were then put up for auction once again in 2021. They were most recently valued at about $2 million to $3.4 million per pair.

Sources & More Info:

Sotheby's: Mughal Spectacles

Architectural Digest of India: At Sotheby's auction, Mughal-era eyeglasses made of diamond and emerald create a stir

Only Natural Diamonds: Auspicious Sight & the Halqeh-e Nur Spectacles

The Royal Society Publishing: Cleaving the Halqeh-Ye Nur Diamonds

Gemological Institution of America: Two Antique Mughal Spectacles with Gemstone Lenses

Manuscript: From Satan's Crown to the Holy Grail: emeralds in myth, magic, and history

CNN: The $3.5 million Spectacles Said to Ward off Evil

BBC: Rare Mughal Era Spectacles to be Auctioned by Sotheby's

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Word List: Amélie

Artichoke - a tall Mediterranean composite herb (Cynara scolymus) resembling a thistle with coarse pinnately incised leaves

Bijou - a small dainty usually ornamental piece of delicate workmanship; jewel

Billet-doux - a love letter

Chimera - an illusion or fabrication of the mind

Clandestine - marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy; surreptitious

Cloudland - the realm of visionary speculation or poetic imagination

Emerald - brightly or richly green

Figment - something made up or contrived

Fluorescence - the emission of visible light by a gemstone when exposed to a light source whose light we normally cannot see

Furtive - done in a quiet and secretive way to avoid being noticed

Gemütlichkeit - cordiality, friendliness

Grail - the object of an extended or difficult quest

Meliorism - the belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment

Mirage - something that comes from or exists only in the mind and is not real

Moiety - half of something

Pipe dream - an illusory or fantastic plan, hope, or story

Quietude - a quiet state; repose

Rosiness - having qualities which inspire hope or optimism

Saffron - a moderate orange to orange yellow

Scintilla - spark, trace

Subterranean - existing in secret

Taciturnity - temperament marked by disinclination to talk

Terminus - a final goal; a finishing point

Timorous - of a timid disposition

Valediction - an act or utterance of farewell

More: Word Lists

[kirain]

Part two of my appreciation project.

@avoyagerinspace A fic based on their wonderful art piece here. Thank you for feeding the fandom!

The ballroom was a glittering spectacle of wealth and influence, a sea of silk and polished gemstones gliding across the floor. Crystal chandeliers flickered overhead, and the scent of spiced wine and expensive perfumes permeated the air, almost overwhelming in its potency. From the grand stage, a sumptuous orchestra played a soft melody, their instruments barely rising above the chatter. Merriment—that was the atmosphere. Inescapable, in every corner.

It was unsettling.

Isra stood by the lavish buffet, swirling a deep crimson wine in a delicate glass. As he took a sip, he winced—too rich, too exotic for his palate. This wasn't wine, it was an "acquired taste". Not a beverage anyone truly enjoyed, but a ridiculous symbol of prosperity. He could force it down, if he had to—to blend in—but he didn't want to. He was tired of pretending.

With a disappointed groan, he set the glass aside, his emerald eyes sweeping over noble after noble, their laughter ringing hollow in his ears. These were people of privilege—people who, more often than not, regarded the poor and destitute not with the empathy they deserved, but with judgment, disdain, or, at best, oblivious indifference. It made his stomach turn.

Until he found Emmrich.

On the other side of the room, he addressed a small circle of scholars and aristocrats, his hands clasped behind his back in a pose of sophistication. Isra swallowed, reminding himself to behave, if only for his sake. This world wasn't his, but it was Emmrich's, in a way. He wasn't a noble by any means, but he had built himself up from nothing, never forgetting the struggles that shaped him. That was commendable, and if anyone had earned a night of luxury, it was him.

Yet, as Isra watched him mingle with the swells, his throat tightened. This isn't Tevinter, he told himself. Things are different here. There's no slavery. No chains.

These people aren't the same.

A sudden crash jolted him from his thoughts, his eyes instinctively snapping to the source.

Not far from where he stood, a discernable noblewoman, on in years, shrieked as a single droplet of wine seeped into the sleeve of her otherwise flawless gown. It was barely noticeable, a mere blemish easily erased with the proper spell or solvent—but the rest of the wine, along with the shattered tray, lay in a pool at her feet. The commotion turned a few heads, and at the heart of the chaos, a young servant stood paralysed, her expression contorting in fear.

"You clumsy little wretch!" the noblewoman yelled, her lips twisting in outrage.

Gasps rippled through the nearby guests as she took a step back, staring down at the spreading stain as though she'd been skewered by a Crow.

"F-forgive me, my lady!" the servant stammered, fumbling to retrieve the hankerchief in her apron. "Allow me," she begged, reaching out in a desperate attempt to fix her trivial mistake.

"Don't touch me! You've done enough!" the woman snapped, wrenching her arm away before the servant could dab at the spill. "Do you have any idea how much this dress cost? More than you make in a year, I'd wager! It was designed and hand stitched by the great Orasini Bruindae! Do you know who that is? I had to wait two years for his services!"

Tears welled in the servant's eyes, her breath coming in quick, shallow sobs. "I'm so, so sorry, my lady. So sorry. I didn't mean—"

"How hard is it to carry a tray?" the woman continued, bereft of any compassion. "I swear, they'll let anyone serve at these events nowadays. Who hired you? I must speak with them at once!"

"Please, my lady..." The servant's hands trembled, the clear threat of termination overwhelming her. "If I could only—"

"What's this?" Isra purred, stepping between them with a dashing smile. "I can hear you from the buffet." He addressed the woman with an eloquence he hadn't merely practiced, but perfected. "Whatever has a vision like you in such distress?"

The older woman flinched, startled by his appearance, by his attire—utterly unfit for the occasion, yet undeniably captivating in ways she wasn't prepared for. He dressed like a ruffian, his skin marked with tattoos; piercings every way she looked. And yet, his dark curls shimmered with an almost hypnotic lustre, carrying the faint scent of cedar and salt, while the bare expanse of his chest all but demanded her attention.

"...Vision?" She flushed, feeling the tug of an urge long-forgotten. "You—she—!" She shook her head, staving off the fantasy. "That useless servant behind you ruined my dress!"

"Ruined? By this tiny speck?" he asked, gingerly taking the woman's hand in his.

Her breath hitched as his tender fingers trailed up her own, over her rings, to her sullied sleeve. "Y-young man, that's—"

"Wonderful," he praised. "Like paint on a canvas. A white dress, pure as its wearer, made all the more radiant by the touch of life's hue. The red matches your spirit, my lady." Wicked. "Passionate." Ugly. "Beautiful." Cruel. "Indomitable. Believe me, an artist has an eye for these things."

"An artist?" the woman sputtered, her rage waning. "Goodness. That explains... a lot."

Isra laughed, his voice warm and booming as he soothed the woman's wounded pride with honeyed words and provocative glances. It didn't take long for her anger to weave into interest as he lifted her hand, brushing his lips over her wrinkled skin in an elegant display that won onlookers' approval.

Then, seamlessly, he turned the woman's back to the servant, ensuring she couldn't see him flick his fingers in a silent command. The girl hesitated, as though duty bound to stay and endure further abuse, but she quickly seized the chance to slip away, disappearing into the crowd.

Isra watched her go from the corner of his eye, his chest twisting at the sight of the tears clinging to her lashes. But he kept his focus on the noblewoman, enthralling her just as long as he could bear.

"Pardon me," he finally said, "but I do believe I've overstayed my welcome. I can see several gentlemen vying for your company, and they deserve it far more than I do."

His tone was courteous and respectful, expertly shrouding the subtle sting in his words.

-----

The crisp night air greeted Isra as he stepped out onto the balcony, the golden lights of the ballroom a stark contrast to the cool silver of the evening. With a sigh of relief, he hunched against the handrail, opening his palm to inspect a ring. A family heirloom, no doubt, its large jewel glinting in the moonlight.

"Serves you right, you old bat," he huffed, almost pouting at the piece of irreplaceable wealth.

"Darling?" a voice called.

Isra turned sharply, seeing Emmrich behind him, concern etched across his features.

Before he could ask what was wrong, as Isra knew he would, he forced a smile, shifting against the marble. "Just needed some air," he said, not entirely lying.

Emmrich moved to his side, his presence calming. "I thought you were getting a drink, but you never came back."

"Yeah, sorry," he murmured. "Didn't want to interrupt."

Emmrich grimaced in disbelief. "I saw you talking to that woman, but I couldn't make out what was said. What happened?"

"Nothing of note," Isra replied, lying entirely.

"Isra..." Emmrich implored, pressing his hand to the small of his back.

At the caring whisper of his name, the weary elf hung his head in defeat, unable to mask his emotions a moment longer. "She made a servant cry," he admitted. "For no reason. All she did was spill a drop of wine on her damned dress. A drop!"

He clutched his fists, averting his gaze as dreadful memories haunted his mind.

An elven boy, on his knees before his masters, begging not to be whipped bloody over the smallest transgression: sleeping too late, tripping in front of guests, spilling a glass of water.

He gritted his teeth.

"What gave them the right?" he growled.

Emmrich's brow furrowed as he began rubbing Isra's back in a soft, soothing motion. "You mean what gave her the right, yes?"

Isra's eyes widened, his body tensing—an instinct carved into him by years of hardship—but the gentle pressure, the steady pace, coaxed him to relax. He leaned into Emmrich's touch, shamelessly chasing the comfort. It took a while, his pulse racing and erratic, but slowly, breath by breath, his composure returned.

"Yes, of course..." he mumbled. "That's what I meant."

Emmrich's heart ached, overcome by guilt as he realised the depth of Isra's pain.

He shouldn't have brought him here.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked, suddenly.

The elf flinched, lifting his head to meet Emmrich's gaze. There was no blame, no hint of indecisiveness—he meant it. He would leave, right now, without reproach, if Isra desired.

"But..."

He straightened, glancing towards the party still in full swing. He had agreed to this—to be here, to support Emmrich while he discussed his work with prominent figures. People who could elevate his research for the betterment of Thedas.

"No," he said selflessly. "Let's head back inside. You have important people to talk to."

Emmrich frowned. "You're important."

Isra's breath stilled. Before he could respond, Emmrich turned and walked away, his fingers riding the railing of the balcony as he descended the steps into the garden. The way he moved—unabashedly suggestive, took the younger man by surprise, his ears straining at the tips.

"Vhenan?"

Emmrich said nothing, pausing just beneath Isra's perch. Then, with a grin and a chivalrous bow, he extended his hand.

"What are you doing?" Isra chuckled.

Again, Emmrich said nothing, only gesturing with his fingers in silent invitation.

At that, Isra couldn't help the besotted smile that stretched across his face. Somehow, this suave necromancer always knew how to cheer him up. No more questions—tucking his thick locks behind his ear, he bent over the railing, reaching for Emmrich's hand. The moment their fingers touched, Emmrich leaned in, brushing a feather-light kiss over his knuckles. Isra blushed, heat creeping up his neck.

"Fuck them," he said, the expletive more seductive than it had any right to be. "Dance with me."

Isra's smile widened. With a nimble hop, he vaulted over the railing, landing smoothly at Emmrich's side.

The euphoric hum of music streamed from the open doors, and without wasting another second, Emmrich pulled Isra into his arms, nearly lifting him off his feet. Together, they moved in a licentious rhythm—Emmrich leading with steady confidence, Isra following with effortless grace. Wrapped in each other's embrace, the world beyond them faded, the distant laughter and clinking glasses forgotten as their steps carried them deeper into the moonlit garden.

"Fly, darling."

Isra's breath caught as Emmrich squeezed his waist, sending shivers down his spine. The heat of his body, the sheen of his sweat—he basked in it all as the older man spun him in a dizzying twirl, the sensual sway intoxicating. With both hands raised; one in Emmrich's grasp and the other gripping his shoulder, the tattoos on his arms flexed like wings cutting through the night.

He was safe. He was free.

Ages passed before the final notes of the song drifted into its coda, but neither man wanted it to end. As soon as the silence enveloped them, Emmrich paused, his hand moving to cup Isra's face, his thumb tracing the handsome curve of his cheek.

"Magnificent," he rasped.

Barely giving the younger man a chance to breathe, he leaned in, capturing his lips in a fervent, almost penitent kiss. It was unexpected, but Isra melted into it, his fingers clutching at Emmrich's vest as his heart pounded against his ribs.

"Emmrich..." he moaned, sensing his grief. "It's all right. Nothing that happened tonight was your fault. You didn't know this would—"

Emmrich deepened the kiss, tasting him, drawing him closer. He didn't want Isra to speak, he wanted him to feel—feel the way his hands traced firm, eager paths down his sides as he shifted lower, his lips trailing to the sensitive nerves of his neck. There, he lingered, flicking his tongue against the throbbing pulse point, savouring the way Isra shivered beneath him.

Then, with unhurried purpose, he dropped to his knees, his fingers skimming Isra's waist as his lips found the bare skin of his chest.

"Ah... yes..."

Isra arched back, his eyes rolling shut, and Emmrich trailed lower still, pressing fervid kisses over each sculpted line of muscle. Only at his stomach did he rest, teasing the bar in his navel with a gentle nibble before reversing course. Then, with slow, aching intent, he rose, mapping the journey back with his lips, until his mouth met Isra's once more, preserving the moment forever.

When they finally parted, Isra's head reeled, viciously unraveled by the quiet intensity of Emmrich's ministrations. If he were to let him go, he would surely collapse, his legs buckling from the pleasure.

"Let's go home," Emmrich said, leaving no room for argument.

Isra sighed, his eyes damp with tears. "Thank you, ma vhenan."

Emmrich smiled, their hands entwined, and together they walked through the garden, leaving the party—and the world of nobles—behind.

[aphroditelovesu]

Since requests are closing in a few days, I just wanted to put another one in. No rush go get it done of course!

I want to request a oneshot/reaction where Alexander gives reader a really, REALLY expensive necklace. Maybe it's a wedding present, a just because present , or something following the birth of the twins. You can decide what you want to do with that 😁!

Also, I keep picturing a necklace made of opal??? Not only is it a stunning gem stone, but it was also thought to be the tears of Zeus in ancient Greece, which would be an interesting tie to Alexander. Again, it's just a suggestion. You can use whatever gemstone you want!

Thanks, and take care ❤️❤️❤️!

--O-

❝ 📜— lady l: this had been sitting in my drafts for a while and I finally decided to write it. I got a little carried away, so it's a little big, but I hope you like it and if you want to order anything else, feel free, anon! Good reading and forgive me for any mistakes! ❤️

❝tw: none, just fluff and very soft!Alexander.

❝📜pairing: yandere!alexander the great x female!reader.

❝word count: 1,308.

Alexander wanted to find something to give you. Something expensive and extravagant, something that would leave you impressed.

He felt like he owed you that. Not only had you given birth to his children, but you were loved by him and he wanted to please you. He thought of several options: a horse, silk clothes, food and even drink. He still wasn't sure what you might like.

Until he had an idea after talking to Hephaestion. He was the one who gave you the idea of giving you a necklace made from a special and rare gem. And he knew it was the right choice to make.

It was no easy task to get a merchant to have the necklace he liked and deemed worthy of you to wear around your delicate neck, but after the fifth try with a different merchant, he finally knew what your gift should be. He decided to gift you with an opal necklace, a jewel that reflected the beauty and mystery of his passion.

It would change color and he would know that it would look beautiful and graceful on your neck. Everything about you was beautiful and graceful, so the necklace would only stand out on you and no one else.

This opulent piece was adorned with the most dazzling opals that could be found in the entire Empire. Each stone sparkled with vibrant colors, dancing like the aurora borealis reflected in the starry night. The necklace was a unique treasure, a harmony of opalescent hues, displaying hues of celestial blue, emerald green, and royal purple.

The merchant who sold it told him a story about the necklace and it was this story that convinced him to buy it. According to the Persian merchant, legend said that opals were gifts from star spirits, who bestowed their blessings on those who used them with love and wisdom. The necklace was not just a piece of jewelry, but a source of magical power. Its colors and reflections were believed to contain the essence of nature, connecting the wearer to the spiritual realms and bringing fortune and protection.

Whoever owned the opal necklace was seen as a keeper of ancient secrets, an heir to the ancient magic that flowed through the precious stones. It was said that opal possessed the ability to amplify intuition and creativity, allowing the wearer to see beyond the ordinary, opening doors to new possibilities and inspiration.

After this explanation, Alexander knew that this necklace must be yours. Not just because of your story, but because of who you were. From when you really came. No one was more worthy than you.

There was also another version of the story that convinced him to buy it. Knowing how religious Alexander was, the merchant also told him that the opal was made from the tears of Zeus. Long ago, at the beginning of Greek civilization, when the gods walked among mortals, Zeus, the mighty king of the gods, shed tears of joy and sorrow over human fate. These tears, upon touching the earth, transformed into radiant stones known as opals, carrying within them the duality of emotions of the great god.

Thus was born the opal, a legendary gem forged by Zeus' own tears. Each stone was shaped from divine emotions, capturing the essence of heaven and earth. Its unique iridescence reflected not only the colors of the rainbow, but also the contrasting feelings of joy and sadness, hope and despair, harmonized in an eternal dance of light and shadow. Ancient sages believed that the necklace was not just a manifestation of beauty, but rather a link between mortals and the gods. It was said that whoever wore the opal necklace would be enveloped in the protection of Zeus and would have the divine wisdom to navigate life's challenges.

And maybe when little Aella grew up, he could give her a necklace similar to the one he chose for you.

He smiled at the thought and with the necklace inside a small wooden box with gold ornaments, he walked to the room you shared in the Babylonian palace. Straightening his posture, Alexander knocked on the door and after hearing a soft ''come in'', he opened the door and smiled widely when he saw you sitting in a padded chair with Aella in one arm and Cyrus in the other. He fell silent when he realized the twins were asleep.

You looked at him and smiled softly when you saw what he had in his hands. Alexander placed the box on a table next to the bed and approached you, carefully taking Cyrus in his arm. You smiled lovingly when you saw him cuddling the baby in his arms.

Whispering, Alexander says, ''I have something for you.''

You smiled and asked curiously, ''What is it?''

Alexander carefully picked up the box with the arm that wasn't swinging Cyrus and placed him on your lap, looking at you expectantly. You smiled and opened the box with a little difficulty due to the sleeping child in your arms. Your eyes widened when you saw the lush opal necklace. You had never seen such beautiful jewelry.

Alexander, who was watching you like a hawk, smiled at you.

''Alexander, that's…'' You swallowed and took the necklace in your hand, carefully observing its details. The necklace was a magnificent piece, a heavenly masterpiece that captivated the eyes of all who dared to gaze upon it. Every aspect of the necklace was a symphony of intertwined beauty and magic.

The centerpiece of the necklace consisted of a main opal, a generously sized gem that radiated an unparalleled iridescent glow. This central opal was an explosion of celestial color, with soft, shimmering hues that moved like an aurora borealis trapped within the gemstone. Its tones ranged from the deep blue of twilight to the lush green of enchanted forests, and occasional glimpses of the deep red of divine fire.

Around the main opal, a series of smaller opals were skillfully arranged, forming a necklace that seemed to have been woven by the stars' own hand. Each smaller gem had its own color personality, some glowing an ethereal blue, others a crystalline green, and still others with purple and gold hues reminiscent of the sun setting over distant mountains.

The structure of the necklace was as intricate as the reflections of the opals. Delicate strands of gold wove between the gems, creating a sparkling frame that complemented the iridescence of the opals. Small, intricate metal sculptures, decorated with designs that resembled star constellations, adorned the necklace, giving it an aura of ancient magic.

''Do you like it?'' Alexander asked after you remained silent, observing the necklace with a strange expression.

''I loved it.'' You whispered, admiring the necklace. Alexander walked over to you and took the necklace from your hands and placed Cyrus back in your arms, careful not to wake him. He stood behind you and removed your hair from your neck, placing the magnificent necklace around your neck. You closed your eyes when you felt the touch of his calloused fingers on your skin and sighed when the necklace was placed on you.

''I'm glad, it suits you.'' He kissed your neck affectionately and you closed your eyes, smiling.

Alexander leaned closer to your ear and whispered, ''When I heard the story about the opal… I knew it would have to be yours and yours alone.''

You opened your eyes and turned your head, looking at him. ''And what is this story?''

Alexander smiled widely and after kissing your forehead, he began to tell you both stories he had heard from the merchant. You just listened in silence, delighting in his words, with your sleeping children on your arm and the weight of the beautiful necklace around your neck.

Your small, loving family.

[niillusions]

Fellas, I know we love Frollo's hands and rings. But hear me out on something.

I could be looking way too far into the movie. But as an artist, that pays attention to every detail I see, and a crazy-ass theorist, I'm gonna share my thoughts about his rings.

Overall, I think Frollo just has the rings to give him a little ✨️pop of color✨️, which works. However, I started to look up what (I think) the gemstones means in The Bible :D

•Ruby - the incomparable value of wisdom, virtuous women, and the truth of God's words.

•Sapphire - truth, correctness, and honesty, it can also mean to emphasize and peace your mind and remove undesirable thinking, sadness, and emotional pressure

•Emerald - Rebirth into new life, power, eternal life, and God's covenant

Sources (I honestly looked it up on Google, lol):

AND ANOTHER THING- THE GRAPES...

In the Bible, the grapes means obedience, sacrifice, and rebirth. Which is crazy that FROLLO IS GIVING QUASIMODO GRAPES SO HE CAN BE OBEDIENT AND SACRIFICE HIS FREEDOM.

Sources again:

Or, I'm over-looking everything... ANYWAY, ENJOY THESE LITTLE THEORIES :DDDD

[boylerpf]

An eclectic mix of antique necklaces in sterling silver. Gemstones ranging from a huge rock crystal necklace, emeralds, garnets, moonstone, moss agate, opal, and jade, to an antique Victorian coin collar.

Source - Boylerpf

[tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang]

https://www.tumblr.com/tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang/784253496073633793/hinas-birthday-dress-is-so-cute?source=share

I think the green is meant to be emerald, the birth stone for may (notice that draken whose birthday in the same month also wore a green themed outfit, instead of his character color which is pink), it seems like the theme for this year's birthday special character is gemstone.

But I agree, the added clover detail is so cute and it looks like she wore the green dress because of takemichi 🥰

Yeah they actually have jewels show up in the animation and you can see them in the background of the full looks!

[redqueenmiku]

Seedrian!Swap: A Master-post

Subtitle: Miku makes a cursed AU...again.

What is Seedrian!Swap?

Well, it’s an AU that flips species on their heads, based heavily off of season 3 of Sonic X. That’s right boys and girls, they be Seedrians.

(As a note, I’ve heard some people call male Seedrians “Thorndrigans”, but for the sake of simplicity, I’ll just be calling them all Seedrians. It’s all fan-made terminology anyway, so take it all with a grain of salt.)

The Story

Green Gate is a planet filled with a species that blur the line between plant and animal. This race, the Seedrians, are defined by their strong link to flora of all kinds.

For a long time, life on Green Gate was peaceful and free of conflict.

Then came the rise of a bad egg. Robotnik, a deceitful human “ambassador” from a distant galaxy, became a man of great power and influence in the upper crust of Green Gate’s society. This gave him the swing to gather an army and start a war against the planets that surrounded Green Gate. The war was started “in the name of all the trampled flora of the universe” and “for revenge on fauna for their crass neglect of nature’s sacred gifts”. In actuality, it was a scheme on Robotnik’s part to take full universal control for himself. Nonetheless, he gained many supporters across the whole of Green Gate. This cybernetically-enhanced army, along with the multitude of robots that stood with them, were known as the Metarex.

This, however, split the people of Green Gate into two factions: those that supported Robotnik’s bout for universal conquest, and those that found the war unjust and sought to end it. The latter group was small and greatly opposed, but they would not let themselves be pushed down.

This latter group would see the rise of a group of heroes bent on ending the war and restoring peace to the universe. These heroes built, in secret, a ship capable of deep-space travel and set out across the universe to find the perfect allies for their cause. Their only lead was a story of seven mystical gemstones known as the Chaos Emeralds.

Little did these heroes know, however, that Robotnik had also set out in search of the Emeralds, reaching the planet of their origin before the heroes of Green Gate could ever arrive. The Emeralds’ guardian, however, was not going to let the Emeralds go without a fight. In a flash of light, the Emeralds were flung across the universe. In spite, Robotnik and the Metarex stole this planet’s source of life, the Planet Egg, just as he had been doing to every planet he encountered in order to build up his own power.

Soon after this, Green Gate’s heroes arrived, nearly crash-landing on arrival. They were happened upon by a young girl from this planet and led to the guardian of the Emeralds. Together, they made a pact to team up, travel the universe, collect the Chaos Emeralds, and defeat the Metarex once and for all.

This...is Seedrian!Swap.

The Characters

SONIC

Sonic was born with the incredible gift of super speed, which he uses more often than not to show off. That speed, however, has been an asset in his and his friends’ fight against the Metarex. He uses spinning sweeps of his powerful tail to demolish his foes; attacks which he refers to as his Spin Attacks.

People have described Sonic as anything from brave, cool, and selfless to cocky, arrogant, and stubborn. Nonetheless, Sonic is a hero through and through and is willing to drop everything to help someone in need. He has reckless tendencies, though, which gets him into a lot of trouble. Strangely, he seems to be able to draw power from the Chaos Emeralds despite originating from a different planet. This is still being looked into.

TAILS

This young Seedrian, born as Miles, was born with a mutation that gave him two tails instead of one. This earned him the nickname “Tails”. He’s not a very strong or experienced fighter, so he prefers to support his friends from the sidelines with his genius mind and mechanical prowess. He acts as the captain (and sole mechanic) of his self-built spacecraft, the Blue Typhoon, and his intellect makes him a master strategist.

Tails seems gentle and timid at first glance, but reveals a sharp wit around those he’s comfortable with. While humble about his skills, he won’t take an insult lying down. He mirrors Sonic’s heroic nature, but not so much his reckless bravery. When the chips are stacked, though, he can tango with the roughest of them from the cockpit of his starship.

KNUCKLES

Tougher than leather with a temper hotter than the sun, Knuckles is the muscle of the group. His raw strength is tremendous, far beyond what’s normal for his kind. Under the right circumstances, his strikes can even cause tremors. Having grown up alone on the streets, he’s grown a tough skin and had to learn how to fight for himself.

Knuckles’ weaknesses, however, are readily apparent. He’s horridly stubborn and set in his ways and his fiery temper can make him a liability at his worst. Even so, Knuckles has a strong sense of justice and won’t allow evil to go unpunished...even if that “evil” is just Sonic making fun of him for the hundredth time.

AMY

Amy Rose, despite holding herself like a dainty young girl, is actually a force to be reckoned with. She carries a large hammer around with her in battle, which she refers to as her Piko Piko Hammer, and is quite skilled in wielding it. She also has an affinity for fortune-telling with tarot cards.

Amy’s greatest interest is Sonic. In fact, this interest is more of an obsession as she constantly vies for his affection (despite the fact he has no intentions of pursuing any kind of romantic relationship). She’s cheerful, optimistic, and unapologetically girly, but she’s also just as much of a hothead as Knuckles, flying into a frenzy at the slightest insult.

CREAM

Poor, young Cream was forcefully separated from her mother when Robotnik’s war began. All she wants is to help end the war so she can reunite with her mother again. She doesn’t have any real combat-worthy skills, but she’s learned a bit of medical know-how from her mother and, with Tails’ guidance, she serves as the second-in-command on the Blue Typhoon.

Cream has a bright, sunny personality and there’s little that can bring her mood down. She often provides emotional support to her friends and enjoys the time she spends with them. She also loves finding new, adorable life-forms on other planets, such as the Chao she ended up adopting on Cosmo’s home planet: Cheese.

COSMO

Cosmo the Cat was just a normal girl until Sonic and friends abruptly crashed into her life (almost literally, at that). From there (and after a bad run-in with Robotnik and the Metarex), she was roped into their grand adventure across the universe. She’s got nothing to assist them in battle or anything like that. She’s just along for the ride, whether she wants to be or not.

Cosmo is shy and tends to shrink away from conflict. Her social skills are lacking, but she tries to be supportive nonetheless. She desperately wants to be helpful, but her clumsiness tends to get in the way of that. At the very least, though, she’s trying her best, no matter what.

LUCAS

Lucas the Echidna is the sacred guardian of the Chaos Emeralds and their controller, the Master Emerald. Thusly, he has a special, almost psychic link to the Emeralds. He takes his duties incredibly seriously and won’t give up the Emeralds to anyone, no matter what the cost.

Lucas is a toxically pessimistic personality. The only thing he takes seriously are the Emeralds and he’s blisteringly antisocial. His only redeeming quality, it seems, is his unshakable desire to protect the Emeralds, which leads him to helping Sonic and friends’ cause out of sheer necessity alone. Otherwise, he wouldn’t associate with any of them...or so he says. Somewhere deep down past the thick layer of stone surrounding his heart, there’s a glimmer of a good spirit in him. He just needs the right stimulus to bring it out.

SHADOW

Shadow is an artificial Seedrian created to harness the energy of the Emeralds for powerful Chaos-based attacks, which he wields with great skill. His directive to collect the Chaos Emeralds often takes him into direct conflict with Sonic and friends and, because of their similar powers, Shadow and Sonic have come to consider each other their greatest rivals.

Shadow is a harsh, no-nonsense loose cannon. He’s rude and antisocial, always coming off as cold and intimidating, and his arrogance is potent and off-putting. Even so, as he slowly learns of the universe around him and the war he’s been forced into, he starts to gain a strange sense of morality, coming to resent Robotnik’s callous cruelty. He even starts to sense that there might be more to his existence than meets the eye...

ROUGE

Rouge is a rogue agent that, after escaping Robotnik’s takeover, decided to take the matter of dismantling his rule into her own hands. Along the way, she infiltrated the Metarex and, through that, met Shadow. As she constantly accompanied him on his missions, the two started to build a strange bond that eventually allowed her to convince him to ditch Robotnik and travel with her to find the Chaos Emeralds on their own.

Rouge finds joy in the finer things in life, especially including gemstones. She keeps a personal collection of precious stones and is always looking to add to her horde. Even despite her selfish tendencies, she empathizes with those displaced by Robotnik’s war and wants to bring the tyrant to justice however she can. Her tactics can be considered underhanded, but she’s a master of trickery and manipulation and believes that “all’s fair in love and war”.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy this...thing I coughed up.

[boymanmaletheshequel]

Symbolism of Artemis

🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹

The twin sister to Apollo/Apollon, daughter of Leto, Artemis is the sacred goddess of virginity, hunting, foraging, feminism, childhood, and the forest, as well as the lady of the moon and the hearth. A goddess known for her fierce mood swings, strict and convicting chastity, and disdain of traditional and toxic masculinity and human perversion, She is among the three virgin goddesses of Hellenic mythology. She was known to take the appearance of animals, such as boars and deer, often favoring them to her human form, which she almost only ever utilized while hunting or bathing in her sanctuary. Although she is inclined to women, she loves all her followers, including her non binary and male followers such as myself. Let’s go over some of her sacred symbolism:

🌈 colors

* In Hellenic Mythos, Artemis is a goddess of the forest and the woods, as well as a generally nature bound goddess, often depicted wearing or represented by shades of green, brown, and muted blues, all colors often associated with the woods and the earth.

🌸 flowers

* red amaranth: known by its taxonomic name of amarantos, Amaranths are the most commonly associated flower with lady Artemis, seen as a symbol of the immorality and violence of nature, as well as their relation to her name in Latin, meaning “unfading” representing her chaste virginity.

* red Carnation: another major flower iconic of Artemis is the carnation, as in Hellenic mythology, it is said that red carnations sprouted from the ground after she gouged out the eyes of a Shepherd who had dared to gaze upon her naked while she was bathing.

🦌 animals

* Stag/Deer: arguably the most well known animal associated with Artemis, and a creature she was known to assume the form of commonly, is the deer. It is said that some epithets of lady Artemis displayed great horns or antlers upon her head. Deer and their venison were also a major source of hunted food in Ancient Greece amongst the civil class.

* Boar: often associated with Artemis’s animalistic fits of rage, boars are one of her more sacred animals, often seen as a facet of her more violent tendencies. They were also an animal she loved to hunt.

* Bear: in the story of Callisto, a faithful devotee of Artemis who had promised her chastity to her, Callisto is seduced by zeus who causes her to break her chaste, infuriating Artemis who turns her to a bear and cast her into the woods. Later, in a plot by her own son to murder her, Zeus had mercy on them both and cast them amongst the constellations as Callisto to Ursa Major (great bear), and her son to Ursa Minor, (little bear).

💎 Gemstones

* emerald: The beautiful green hues of emerald are iconic of natures infatuation and affinity for the color, and as a goddess of nature incarnate, it is therefore often associated as the primary gemstone or crystal associated with lady Artemis.

* Moss agate: Named for its intricate dendrites that mimic the appearance of wild mosses, moss agate is a stone of nature and mystery, both aspects often referred to Artemis by. This makes it an easy, affordable choice of a stone to dedicate to and associate her with, especially for pagan wishes who may wish to decorate an altar for her!

* Moonstone: The stone of the moon, known for its Labradoresence and beautiful muted tones, it makes since that a stone named for the moon would be heavily associated with Artemis. It is also one of the stones associated with Virgo, the astral sign most widely connected to lady Artemis. (I too am a Virgo!)

🪐 Planets:

* The moon: Artemis is the patron saint of the earths moon, known for her affinity for her sacred night hunts, and has long inspired stories of lunar exploration. In fact, in 2017, NASA began work on the Artemis program, a plan to construct and launch a space shuttle that is to be used to land on the moon, delivering the first female astronaut ever to its surface!, and mark the first time a human being has set foot on the moon since 1972 when it lands there in 2026

🌟 Astrology

* Virgo and Cancer: Artemis, a goddess associated with various characteristics, is most often associated with two signs in traditional astrology, the first is Virgo, due to her inherent connections to the earth and virginity, and the second is cancer, due to her connections to the moon and her unique independence in Olympian society.

🏹 other iconography

* Bow and Arrow. Ever since I was a little one, I LOVED the idea and character of katniss Everdeen of the hunger games universe, and I would go into the woods and create my own bow and arrows, and set up targets to shoot! I now realize that’s one of the many reasons why I’ve always been drawn to Artemis! She is the ultimate expert with the bow and arrow, her sacred symbol and weapon of hunting.

🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌

What things or moments so you associate with lady Artemis? She is one of the many more intimidating goddesses I’ve come to adore, but as the first god I ever worshipped after leaving Christianity, I’ve found her more forgiving and patient than one might expect!

[gemville]

18k White Gold, Aquamarine, Sapphire, Emerald and Colored Gemstone Hummingbird Brooch by Mikimoto

Photo Courtesy: Mikimoto

Source: scmp.com (SCMP Style)

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Salamander Brooch from London, c.1600-1650 CE: this 400-year-old brooch is made of emerald, diamond, gold, and enamel

This stunning brooch is part of the Cheapside Hoard, which is a collection of jewelry, carved gemstones, and other finely-crafted artifacts that were buried beneath a building in London during the mid-17th century.

Above: the salamander brooch

This article explains:

Buried around 1640, this hidden treasure lay undisturbed for almost 300 years below Cheapside, one of London's busiest streets.

The hoard was discovered by chance as workmen demolished a timber-framed building in Cheapside, near St Paul's Cathedral in central London in June 1912. The building had stood on the site since the 17th century, but the cellars underneath were older. While the workmen were breaking up the cellar floor, they noticed something glinting in the soil below. They soon realised that they’d found a tangled heap of jewellery, gems and other precious objects.

Above: amethyst and emerald grapevine pendants from the Cheapside Hoard, c.1600-1650 CE

There are around 500 items in the hoard, including an exquisite gold watch set in a massive emerald, pendants of ripe amethyst grapes, and a salamander brooch, formed from gold, enamel and diamonds.

Very little jewellery from the 16th and 17th century survives, making the hoard the most important collection of its kind in the world.

Above: gold-inlaid pocket watch crafted from a single piece of emerald, c.1610 CE

No one knows who buried the Cheapside Hoard, why it was buried, or why it was then abandoned. The turmoil of the mid-1600s may offer some clues, according to this article:

Certainly it was a calamitous time in England. The outbreak of civil war in 1642 ultimately resulted in an overthrow of the monarchy and the execution of King Charles I in 1649. Unrest and political upheaval may have caused the hoard’s owner to hide his prized possessions, as many jewelers took up arms to fight. More uncertainty followed, including the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and the return from exile of Charles II, son of the former king.

Over the centuries, the bubonic plague had swept through Europe and Britain in waves, culminating in 1665–1666 with the Great Plague of London, which killed about 15% of the population. Those who had the means fled the city to avoid the deadly epidemic.

Above: emerald parrot, c.1550-1650 CE

In 1666, a fire that started in a bakery spread quickly through the city. In less than three days it consumed more than 13,000 buildings, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, about a block away from the hoard. The Great Fire of London, as it came to be known, destroyed most of the city’s wooden structures, including those above the site of the treasure. Evidence of fire damage found during the Cheapside excavations led experts to conclude that the jewels were buried no later than 1666. It is unlikely that the owner of the hoard perished in the fire, as very few casualties were actually recorded.

Following the Great Fire of London and the rebuilding of the city, new structures were erected in the Cheapside district around 1670. This time, brick and mortar structures rose above the forgotten cellars, sealing the Cheapside Hoard for two and a half centuries.

Above: a gold earring or pendant decorated with three pink sapphires and seven emeralds is depicted on the left, while a fan handle studded with amethysts and sapphires is depicted on the right, c.1600 CE

Sources & More Info:

London Museum: Salamander Brooch

London Museum: The Cheapside Hoard

Gemological Institute of America: The Museum of London's Extraordinary Cheapside Hoard

The Telegraph: Mystery of the Cheapside Hoard

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Some Gemology Vocabulary

for your next poem/story (pt. 2)

Gemology—the scientific study of gemstones

Clarity - The grading of a gemstone is based on the presence or absence of inclusions. The fewer inclusions, the better a gemstone’s clarity grade.

Crown - Located above the girdle or at the top of a cut stone, the crown faces up and is in plain view when the gem is arranged in a setting.

Culet - The bottom quadrant or point on a stone with a pavilion that ends in a single point; a bottom facet cut parallel to the girdle on a stone with an otherwise pointed bottom, initially intended to prevent chipping.

Diaphaneity - The general term to describe the transmittance of light through an object. The 3 typical classifications are transparency, translucency, and opacity.

Diffusion treatment - A treatment used to alter the color of a gemstone (mostly sapphires).

Dispersion - The separation of white light into the component colors of the visible spectrum.

Facet - A flat surface on a stone or other media.

Girdle - The line created where the crown and pavilion facets meet, or the series of facets that separate the crown and pavilion facets.

Pavilion - The part of the stone below the girdle, otherwise the bottom portion of the stone.

Sectile - Capable of being cut as into slices or shavings.

Table - A facet on the crown, usually parallel to the girdle. In cases when the girdle isn't a straight line, the table is typically at 90° to the stone's center axis.

Tavernier rule - A method of gemvalue calculation. Price increases by the square of weight of stones. Now obsolete.

Veinstone - Any mineral other than metal which occurs in a vein (i.e., a crack, crevice, or fissure, filled, or practically filled, with mineral matter).

Wisps - Whitish wisp-like fractures resembling thin wind-blown clouds. Occur in some synthetic emerald but never in the genuine.

Youstone - An old English term for jade.

Sources: 1 2 3

More: On Gemology ⚜ Word Lists

[warwickroyals]

Sunderland's Royal Jewel Vault (24/∞) ♛

↬ Queen Irene's Louts Tiara

Most of the tiaras in Sunderland's royal vault have decades-long histories that are, in most cases, carefully documented. However, some tiaras are more elusive. Queen Irene's lotus tiara remains one of the most mysterious in the royal vault. The tiara first made its public debut during the 1994 New Year’s Gala. When Queen Irene stepped out to view the annual fireworks display her tiara was bearly visible. The delicate platinum tiara with pearl toppers was partially obscured by Irene's mound of blond hair and the tumultuous January snowstorm made getting a clear shot of the tiara even more difficult. Over the following years, jewels hard time identifying the tiaras's origin and providence. Most likely, the tiara was gifted to Irene following her 1968 wedding to the Prince of Danforth, but this has yet to be confirmed by any official sources. Irene only ever wore this mystery tiara once and following its 1994 appearance, it disappeared for decades, with some claiming it had been dismantled. However, in 2020 the tiara made a second sudden appearance, this time being worn by the Queen's daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Sherbourne. Rumours that the tiara had been dismantled proved to be false, in fact, the tiara looked nearly identical to its 1994 setting with one key difference — the queen's original pearl toppers had been replaced by emeralds, widely speculated to be Illriyan emeralds from the Queen's personal jewelry box. Shelby, said to be the king's favourite daughter-in-law, has kept the lotus tiara in steady rotation along with her wedding tiara and another emerald tiara. Over the years, Shelby has gotten creative, routinely swapping the tiara's toppers (or removing the toppers altogether to wear the piece as a bandeau!) with different gemstones including turquoise in 2024, pink topaz in 2026, and peridot in 2027. The tiara's past still remains ambiguous, but the Duchess has ensured that it won't be easily forgotten.

Queen Irene wears her lotus tiara during the 1994 New Year's Gala,, in the background Princess Jacqueline can also be seen wearing the Wynn meander tiara

The Duchess of Sherbourne wears the tiara with emerald toppers in 2022

[livingsidecharacter]

💎 🧿 :0

yess YESS MORE MORE QUESTIONS taps fingers mischievously

💎 do you have a certain gemstone or material you associate with any specific alters? or, do you have any alters who introjected from any sort of crystal?

crystal sourced we have rose quartz thats a filipina singer, bismuth ghost bride that helps fragments form and fuckass wdk nonhuman is emerald, lemon angel is topaz, freq fronter is fluoride, and mcyt fixated headmade is jade to list a few

🧿 does your system have any collective beliefs or religions? if so, what is it?

hmm collectively were agnostic but we have a bunch of different religious headmates like some catholic, christian, shinto, pagan, satanists, and some religions of their own/sourced religions :] most of us are non practicing agnostic or atheist so yeah

THANKS FOR ASKING KEEP EM COMING RAHH

[dizzyhslightlyvoided]

An incomplete list of terms and phrases which I first heard through parodies, puns, and other shenanigans before I actually knew what they were puns of:

"to liquidate" (when I was a small child): the MGM Wizard of Oz movie, when Dorothy reported that she'd melted the Wicked Witch of the West, and the Wizard wisecracked "You liquidated her, eh?" (actual meaning: to convert an asset into cash/money)

"to whet one's appetite" (when I was a small child): a compilation of the mid-twentieth-century newspaper comic strip Pogo which my grandmother had, which had an exchange that was something like, "We should go for a swim before lunch." "A good idea, it'll wet our appetites." (actual meaning: to do something that will increase your appetite prior to a meal)

"eats like a bird" (small child): A Star Trek bedtime story my mom told me in which Cyrano Jones was trying to sell tribbles which were supposedly safe, which he justified by saying said "it eats like a bird"; someone countered that "birds eat half their own weight." (actual meaning: having a tendency to eat only a small amount)

"to knock (someone) up" (child or teenager): on what I'm pretty sure were multiple occasions, I read logic-puzzles or Encyclopedia Brown-esque mystery-stories (so, logic puzzles again) which hinged on the fact that, as the solutions explained, the British English definition of the phrase is to "knock on (someone)'s door to wake them up"! I didn't know either definition. (American English meaning: to get (someone) pregnant)

the words "chaos" and "emerald" (as a small child): I first encountered the term in Sonic the Hedgehog, regarding the artifacts of absolute power known as the Chaos Emeralds, and when I subsequently encountered the phrase "I thrive on chaos" I got confused. ("chaos": disorder; strife; "emerald": a beryl gemstone typically colored green, but as a loanword in Japanese, エメラルド emerarudo can mean any kind of gem).

"money laundering" (middle school or early high school): in an episode of The Simpsons where mafia boss Fat Tony is hosting a big meeting of mobsters who are visiting overnight, and he says, "If you need money laundered, just set it outside your door. You can pick it up in the morning." (definition: taking money obtained through illegal means, and funnelling it through some misdirection or whatever to make it look as though it was obtained through a legitimate source.)

"roll off (one's) tongue"/"spit it out" (middle school I think): an Animaniacs comic book which had a "useless facts" page, which at one point stated that the scientific name for "hairball" was "trichobezoar", to which Rita and Runt have the exchange "Doesn't exactly roll off your tongue, does it?" "Definitely not, Rita -- you kinda have ta spit it out!" ("roll off the tongue": of words, to be easy to say; "spit it out": to succeed in saying something/to say something brusquely)

"Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám" - in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends, there was a story arc which heavily featured a small toy boat Bullwinkle had uncovered, and the attempts by a Grand Vizier from South Asia to acquire it and bring it back to his ruler; it was made out of rubies and had the name "Omar Khayyam" on the bow: hence, "the Ruby Yacht of Omar Khayyam." (Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám is the title that Edward Fitzgerald gave to his 1859 translation of a selection of poetry attributed to eleventh-century polymath Omar Khayyam. Who was Persian, not Indian or possibly Pakistani. This is also where I learned what a Grand Vizier was.)

Half the jokes in Wurst Cellar by Wallace Tripp, including the title.