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Diamonds in history.
Since the very beginning, diamonds have been associated with
romance and legend...
Diamonds were discovered in India around 600 BC. Although these
deposits did not produce large amounts they were the world's
only major source of diamonds for more than 2 thousand years,
yielding some of histories most famous gems. Understandably, the
oldest and richest imagery comes from India, where diamonds
figure prominently in Hindu traditions. Diamond was also an
important symbol in Buddhism, the other great religion of India.
Besides meaning "diamond" and "thunderbolt" the sanskrit word 'vajra'
denotes perfect peace of mind, spiritual balance, clarity of
thought, and unlimited insight. The world's oldest printed book,
containing what it says are the hardest teachings to penetrate,
is called the Diamond Sutra.
The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of
stars fallen to the earth. It was even said by some that they
were the tears of the Gods. Until the 15th century only kings
wore diamonds as a symbol of strength, courage and
invincibility. Over the centuries, however, the diamond acquired
its unique status as the ultimate gift of love. The very word
'diamond' comes from the Greek 'adamas' meaning unconquerable,
suggesting the eternity of love.
In the 18th century Brazil became the leading producer of
diamonds but its output was still small by modern standards.
Around 1870 farmers in South Africa began to find diamonds along
their rivers and in their fields. These deposits have since
yielded huge quantities of diamonds. Equally important, they
were the first recognized discoveries of diamonds in the rock
material which brought them to the surface. By studying the
South African deposits, geologists could learn to locate and
identify other potential sources. This knowledge opened up a
continuing era of discovery.
The American Museum Of Natural History has a fascinating online
exhibit called the Nature of Diamonds that includes an
interesting précis of heir historical importance. Well worth a
look!
For most however, the history of Diamond is most appreciated by
learning about the most famous of these gems, and the lengths
their owners went to acquiring and retaining them
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