The name Peridot comes from the Arabic work "feridat," meaning gem. When natives discovered Peridot crystals in the black sands of Hawaii, they explained their presence as tears shed by Pele, the volcano goddess. Early Egyptian priests drank a stimulating beverage called Soma from cups made of Peridot, believing this practice to draw them closer to Isis, the goddess of nature. They called Peridot the "gem of the sun." It was believed that the Peridot glowed with light even as darkness fell. Miners were said to have scouted for these gems during the night, marking their location and returning in the light of day to retrieve them. Perhaps this legendary mining method is the reason Peridot is sometimes called "evening emerald." Legend says the Peridot was one of the favorite gemstones of Cleopatra and that some of the "emeralds" worn by her were actually Peridot.
Peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence and a wonderful year. It has been ground to powder and used as a remedy for asthma and as a cure for thirst brought on by fever. Peridot has been know to attract love and calm anger while also soothing nerves and dispelling negative emotions.
Peridot is a mineral named Olivine which is found in a variety of brilliant greens, ranging from light yellowish green to dark olive. The purer green a Peridot is, the higher its value. Peridot has been mined as a gemstone for thousands of years and is mentioned in the Bible under the name Chrysolite. It forms deep inside the earth and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. Early mining of this gem was done on St. John's island near Egypt around 1500 B.C.
Today Peridot is mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, the Congo and Arizona. Peridot is a gift symbolic of vitality. It signifies strength, both individual and in relationships and it is said to promise new growth in years ahead. Traditionally, Peridot is gifted on the 16th wedding anniversary and is also used in birthstone bracelets and necklaces for new mom's and grandmothers. Baby girls born in August are often gifted a name bracelet that is accented with her peridot birthstone.