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True onyx is an opaque stone that bears even,
straight bands of black and white running through its substance.
However, many jewelers treat onyx to transform it into a pure black
stone, using one of many alchemical processes or magical processes
to accomplish the task. When dyed pure
black, onyx is particularly favored in the city of Ta'Nalfein. Many
Nalfein women wear the symbol of House Nalfein depicted in onyx and
malachite inlay upon a hairclip.
Undyed onyx is popularly associated with the
goddess Lorminstra. Followers of Lorminstra often wear onyx cameos
that depict the face of the goddess, the Ebon Gates, a key, or a
single snowflake, using the black and white bands to their best
advantage in the bas-relief carvings. It is also associated with the
greater spirit Voln, and those who wear onyx to honor Voln usually
wear a cameo akin to those of Lorminstra's followers, but the cameo
bears Voln's white shield instead of one of the Lorminstran images.
Human legend holds that, if a peasant's husband
has died while traveling, she may awaken to find a rose blossom
carved from pure black onyx on the pillow beside her. These onyx
roses are a gift from the spirit Laethe, intended both to express
his sorrow at the widow's loss and to give her something she may
sell to sustain herself and her family through the time of their
grief.
Magically, onyx is associated with spiritual
magics, particularly those of blessing.
Onyx is the striped, semiprecious variety of
agate with white and black alternating
bands. Other varieties include carnelian onyx, with white and red
bands, and sardonyx, with white and brown bands. Its properties are
the same as those of quartz. Onyx is used in carved cameos and
intaglios because its layers can be cut to show a color contrast
between the design and the background.
The name onyx comes from the Greek word "onux", which means
fingernail. The story is that one day Cupid cut the divine
fingernails of Venus with an arrowhead while she was sleeping. He
left the clippings scattered on the sand and the fates turned them
into stone so that no part of the heavenly body would ever perish.
Black isn't normally the color one associates with fingernails.
But for the Greek almost all colors of chalcedony, from fingernail
white to dark brown and black, were called onyx. Later, the Romans
narrowed the term to refer to the black and dark brown colors of
chalcedony only.
For hundreds of years, it was carved to produce cameos as the contrast between the different
colored layers heightened the relief. Since ancient times, onyx has been dyed to
improve it's color. Often treated agate is sold as black onyx.
It has been used to alleviate grief, promote self control and wise decision making and to bring happiness and good fortune.
This stone promotes increased vigor, strength,
stamina, constancy, steadfastness, permanence, tenacity,
firmness and
durability. Valuable in difficult or confusing
times of our lives.
It is considered to be useful in the treatment of heart trouble, ear/hearing problems, watery eyes, hair problems and
disorders related to bone marrow. It is thought to relieve stress by enhancing self control and inspiring serenity.
Onyx is the anniversary gemstone for the 7th year of marriage. Black onyx is the anniversary gemstone for the 10th year of marriage.
It is the zodiac stone for Leo (23 July to 22 August.) |
