Description
An angel (Hebrew: מלאך; mal'ach, Arabic: ملاك; malak, Latin: angelus, Ancient Greek: ἄγγελος; ángelos) is a supernatural, intellectual being found in various (often monotheistic) religions. In Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, angels, as attendants or protectors of humans, usually act as messengers of God (or the gods), from whom they are clearly distinct, and possess superhuman abilities and characteristics. In other religions, supernatural beings are sometimes compared to angels, because they share some characteristics with angels and are considered angelic. The word angel comes from the Greek ἄγγελος, ángelos, meaning "messenger." The Hebrew word for angel is מלאך, mal'ach, which also means "messenger." The Arabic word ملاك, malak, is etymologically related. The term "angel" itself does not denote a divine being. For example, the author of the last book of the Old Testament is referred to as "Malachi"—"my messenger," and the leaders of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation are called "aggeloo." Angels can take any physical form. In the Christian tradition, angels often have a perfectly human appearance, usually that of a young man, although angels are asexual. In biblical stories, angels are sometimes not initially recognized as such by humans. See, for example, Genesis 18 (where the identity of the visitors is revealed only later), and Judges 13:21 (where the visitor makes an impression but is only recognized as an angel upon his departure). This is also mentioned in Islam: for example, Muhammad, upon the appearance of the archangel Gabriel, thought he was dealing with a jinn. Sometimes angels also appear in the form of a fearsome and light-emitting being, and their appearance is almost physically unbearable for humans. Angels are usually depicted—in art and on icons, for example—as beings with wings. This is understandable, after all, they must maintain a connection with heaven. Yet, there are no texts in the Bible or in Jewish scriptures in which angels, when delivering a message, have such an appearance; Jacob, for example, saw angels descend from heaven using a (Jacob's) ladder. This is different with angels proclaiming the greatness of God, as in Isaiah 6 (seraphim with six wings) and Ezekiel 1 (beings with four wings). In the Quran, the first verse of Surah 35, "The Founder" (فاطر), does state that angels have wings "two, three, and four." The way angels are depicted is largely based on convention: angels, supernatural and incorporeal beings, cannot be accurately depicted to humans. In the tradition of Orthodox Christianity, cherubim are often referred to as "many-eyed" and seraphim as "six-winged," although they do have human form. This aligns with what we read about seraphim in Isaiah 6. In iconography, seraphim are depicted as six-winged, flaming beings, covering their faces and legs with their wings in awe of God's majesty.
Amethyst is a violet variety of the mineral quartz (SiO2) and is the most sought-after stone of the quartz group. Etymology: The name derives from the Greek αμεθυστoς (amethystos). Amethyst was already known to the Egyptians, Etruscans, and Romans, and Pliny the Elder described it. In ancient China, small gems were cut from amethyst. In the Middle Ages, amethyst was also highly prized in Europe. It was called the bishop's stone because it was once a favored gemstone for ecclesiastical dignitaries and was believed to possess magical powers. It was the symbol of lovers, the stone of temperance, and a protector against sorcery and witchcraft. Jacob van Maerlant offers an explanation that the stone dispels drunkenness. It has been assumed that the Greek name means "against intoxication": wine drunk from an amethyst cup is said to be intoxicating. Origin: Metamorphic, hydrothermal, alluvial deposits. The crystals always grow on a substrate; the prisms are often weakly developed, and therefore the crystal points of amethyst predominate; here, the color is also most intense. These parts are knocked off, that is, broken off for further use. Firing at temperatures between 470 and 750 degrees Celsius produces light yellow, reddish-brown, green, or colorless varieties. Some amethysts gradually fade in daylight. Radium irradiation can restore the original color. The color is caused by iron in combination with ionizing radiation. Amethyst is less attractive in artificial light. Occurrence: As early as the Middle Ages, Brazil boasted its amethyst deposits; they are mined in places such as Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Mato Grosso. Recently, the so-called ametrine, an amethyst-citrine, has been mined in Bolivia, where the violet and yellow colors alternate, but the transition between the colors is sharply defined. Amethysts are also known in the United States, namely in Montana, Maine, Georgia, and Arizona. Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, India, Myanmar, Japan, China, and Korea, as well as Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Congo, and Australia, are also important producers. In Russia, amethyst is found in the Urals, Yakutsk, and the Kola Peninsula, among other places. Amethysts are also found in Armenia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, and Ireland. Amethyst rarely forms larger, pure crystals. The British Museum houses a unique cut stone weighing 343 carats. Other, smaller stones weigh less; they usually come from Brazil. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, even possesses a cut amethyst from Brazil weighing 1,362 carats and one from North Carolina weighing 202.5 carats. Amethysts were often used in state jewels, such as Catherine the Great's scepter and the scepter of the British Crown.
Searching for Amethyst and opening the geodes.
