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Ruby Etymology
What's the first thing you think about when imagining Ruby? Of course it's the color, which apart from giving
its value is everything, even the origin of its name. The
earliest European connection to the word Ruby, referring
directly to the gem type and not describing the color, was 'Rubinus Lapis': Latin for 'Red Stone'. 'Rubinus' originated from a word in the ancient Proto-Indo-European
language 'Reudh': meaning 'Red'.
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Proto-Indo-European,
dating back to 3,500 B.C., was the root of all languages
from Europe to India. Aside from European Greek or Latin,
its influences can be seen in the Indian language of
Sanskrit dating back to 400 B.C., and its word for 'Red':
'Rudhira'. Red is the only color in the spectrum that
shares common etymological links that stretch across
continents this far back into ancient history.
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In ancient times, although it's no longer the case today,
Ruby was also referred to by another name. This word
like 'Reudh' describes the Ruby's coloration, but in
a more figurative sense more closely related to the
properties of the flaming red gemstone. The first recorded instance
of this word appears in the Bible's Book Of Exodus,
which documents Moses leading the Hebrew slaves out
of Amenhotep II's Egypt, circa 1444 B.C.:
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"And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment.
And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four
rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a
topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire,
and a diamond.
And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and jasper:
they shall be set in gold in their inclosings."
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In this passage the Ruby was referred
to as 'Carbuncle'. This literally meant 'A little burning
coal' from the prefix 'Carbo' as in 'Carbon'. Pondering
a ruby one can see the relevancy of the description:
its deep reds burning like an ember in an open fire. |
However, it seems that the ancients of the near east,
unaware of the differences in red gemstones, used the
term 'Carbuncle' as a universal term for all that was
red including garnet, tourmaline and spinel. This confusion
resulted in the mistaken identities of two of the most
famous gemstones in history: The 'Timur Ruby' and ' The
Black Prince's Ruby', one now in the Crown Jewels of
England and the other in Queen Elizabeth II's private
jewelry collection. In 1815 both gemstones were discovered
to be spinels. |
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Back east, home to the world's most ancient and beautiful Ruby deposits, it seems that the art of Ruby identification
was much more developed. On the ancient Southern Continent
the Indian Sanskrit writings referred to Ruby as 'Ratnaraj':
'The King of Jewels', describing it as the most precious
of all gemstones, the prized possession of Rajas and
Emperors alike. The association of royalty to the
Ruby can be seen in many tales, legends and lore.
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