In ancient times aquamarine was thought of as a powerful protective talisman for sailors and those travelling by sea. Aquamarine, the blue-green variety of beryl, is aptly named for the Latin phrase “water of the sea.”

Some mermaid’s treasure house

Pliny, a Roman scholar of the 1st century, who penned the first encyclopedia of natural history, wrote of aquamarine:

…the lovely aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid’s treasure house, in the depths of a summer sea, has charms not to be denied.

Earrings of the Greek island of Cyprus

The earring pictured in the this photo is from about the 2nd century BC, from the island of Cyprus. It was made with twisted gold, garnet, aquamarine, and dolphin-head finials. The aquamarine and the dolphin symbolism made this earring a powerful charm of protection for sea travel.

A wealthy woman’s charm

I imagine that these earrings were owned by a wealthy Greek woman of the island of Cyprus. Since aquamarine was a symbol of love and the traditional morning gift, she received the earrings from her husband on the morning after her wedding night.

This woman likely traveled from her home on the island of Cyprus to mainland Greece, a journey of about 800 miles. She may have travelled every year to attend the annual procession in Athens or every four years to attend the Olympic games. Either way, the trip by sail boat probably took about four or five days, and she wore her earrings with aquamarines and dolphins for protection and love.