Seafarers are as
much in need of luck and good fortune as the rest of us, and oftentimes more
so. This was certainly true in ancient times, when sailors had few if any
instruments to guide them and no knowledge of approaching weather. For this
reason, special amulets were created specifically for seafarers; a Greek
fragment from the third or fourth century CE lists seven of them. They were as
follows:
Amulet with carbuncle and chalcedony - supposed to provide protection from drowning.
Amulet with quartz and corundum - no purpose specified.
Amulet with aquamarine beryl - supposed to rid the wearer of fear.
Amulet with agate - no purpose specified.
Amulet with coral - meant to be attached to a ship's prow, this amulet was supposed to guard the ship from bad winds and heavy waves.
Amulet with banded agate - banished fear of surging oceans.
Amulet with jet - great protection for all who travel by river or by sea.
Additional Notes:
The Greek fragment from which this information was derived was Pitra's Specilegium Solesmense, published in Paris in 1855. Some educated guesses have had to be made about the specific stones involved, since ancient Greeks did not name or classify precious stones in modern terms.
Of related interest: Fine Jewelry and Watches
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