Agate Symbols in Jewelry Design

Whether you call them amulets, charms, fetishes, or talismans, virtually every culture had them.  I like to think of them as little works of art, but they are so much more than that.  They were worn on the body to bring luck, heal, enhance fertility, protect against injury (during travel, hunting, or from bites and stings) or ward off evil, depending on the wearers beliefs and intentions.  They came in many forms, made with different materials, and adorned with different symbols. The meaning and significance in the symbolism of a particular image changed from east to west, culture to culture, and even day to day.  Even if you do not believe in their magical powers, it is fun to know the intention of the artists who created them, and the power felt by the person who wore them before you, as many of the pieces are antiques.  Below is a list of amulets and symbols found in many of the pendants and beads in KatieO jewelry.

Agate:

Agates are considered lucky gemstones and have been prized since antiquity.  They have been worn for thousands of years for protection,  healing, and to give the wearer strength, happiness, and prosperity. Ancient Greek mariners wore agate as a talisman against drowning. The Babylonians used "eye agates" for protection against all kinds of evil, especially the evil eye.  Persian athletes wore agate amulets to make them invincible.  The Cretans used agates to heal snakebites.  The Anglo Saxons wore agates to gain wealth and to help them overcome enemies in battle. In the Middle Ages agates were worn for their magic properties. 

Agates come in many colors and these also were regarded to have different properties.  The reddish varieties like carnelian were highly desired in the ancient Orient.  They symbolize long life, spiritual love and can protect the wearer from other people's envy.  The Black agates were preferred by the Greeks and Romans and symbolize courage, vigor, and prosperity, and act as guardian spirits.  White agate was thought to be a cure for insomnia.

Photos:

Top Left:  Fridrika, from the Girls Rock Collection

Bottom Right:  Fridrika, from the Girls Rock Collection

                           Black Knight, from the Mens Talisman Collection