The Grapevine Late Summer 2019 Grapevine Aug-Sep 2019 v2 | Page 21

Diamonds are Forever
T
he word ‘diamond’ comes
from the Greek word
‘adamao’ which means ‘invincible.’
Diamonds share some of the
same characteristics as coal –
they are both formed of carbon.
However, diamonds are formed
in the heat of the earth at depths
of between 90 and 120 miles at
temperatures between 1652
and 2372 degrees Fahrenheit.
They make their way to the
surface via volcanic activity.
known as the Silk Road. Ancient
civilisations believed they were
the gifts of the Gods and would
bring health, wealth and strength
to whoever owned them. They
were worn as adornments, used
as cutting tools and served as
talismans to ward off evil. They
were believed to protect the
wearer in battle.
In the Bible, the prophet Jeremiah
mentions diamonds when
speaking of the sins committed
by the Kingdom of Judah. “The
sin of Judah is engraved with a
pen of iron, with the point of a
diamond; it is carved upon the
tablet of their heart and upon the
horns of your altars.” In the Dark Ages, diamonds were
also used as a medical aid and
were believed to cure illness and
heal wounds when ingested.
Diamonds were also said to be
capable of making the wearer
invisible. However, like the
turquoise, they were thought to
lose their talisman-like powers if
they were bought. Only stones
received as a gift would retain
their supernatural abilities.
It is believed that the first diamonds
were found in India in the 4th
Century B C. They were dispersed
along the ancient trade route The use of rings as a symbol of
commitment dates back to
Roman times. The history of the
engagement ring began in 1215
when Pope Innocent III declared
a waiting period between a
betrothal and the marriage
ceremony. Only the elite were
permitted to wear rings with
jewels. The first recorded
presentation of a diamond
engagement ring was in 1477
when Archduke Maximilian of
Austria proposed to Mary of
Burgundy.
Until the 18th century, India was
believed to be the only source of
diamonds. A small deposit was
found in Brazil in 1725 but it wasn’t
until 1866 that they were discovered
in South Africa – leading to a rush
of prospectors at what became
the Kimberly Mine. In 1880,
Englishman Cecil Rhodes
formed De Beers Consolidated
mines in an effort to control the
supply of diamonds. Since then,
diamonds have been discovered
in Russia, Australia and Canada.
Sue Johnson
Poet & Novelist
Creative Writing Workshops
Critique Service & Talks
Tel: [phone] • www.writers-toolkit.co.uk
The Grapevine

21