The eighth Foundation Stone of New Jerusalem.

Beryl is the true name of several very important gemstones, yet a term not often used. The best known beryl are the emerald (grass green in color), and the aquamarine (blue-green). Aquamarine is a light blue or bluish-green variety of beryl. Historians have likened it to “a thousand leagues of sunlit sea imprisoned in a cup.” It’s very name is descriptive of it’s color: ‘aqua’ meaning water and ‘marine’ meaning sea. Both of these stones were well known in Bible times, the aquamarine being the most common. Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) who was a historian at the time the Book of Revelation was written, describes the beryl (Greek ‘berullos’) of that day, “The lapidaries cut all beryls of a hexagonal form because the color...is heightened by reflections resulting from the angles. The most esteemed beryls are those which in color resemble the pure green of the sea.” This would seem to indicate the aquamarine as going by the name of beryl in that time. At that time, emeralds, though also beryl, were called by another name, ‘smaragdos’. Beryl is found in Austria, Columbia, Brazil, Russia, East Africa, Australia, Madagascar, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Zambia, Nigeria, U.S.A., Afghanistan. The family name beryl is used to describe stones which are not distinctly green enough to be classified as emeralds, or stones where the color may be borderline between yellow and green. Stones like these could be called green beryl or yellow green beryl. Green beryl can usually be heated to remove the green and improve the blue resulting in the more valuable variety, aquamarine.

Gem folklore say that aquamarine (beryl) is the treasure of mermaids, with the power to keep sailors safe at sea. Aquamarine protects against the wiles of the devil. Also, that a dream of aquamarine means that you will meet new friends. Heliodor (yellow/golden beryl) clears and soothes the emotions. Folklore attributes beryl with the ability to help heal the digestive organs, give courage and strength, dispel fear, bring good luck and good fortune, and increase intellect and creativity.

One of the earliest writers to associate with the apostles the symbolism of the gems given in Revelations is by Andreas, bishop of Caesurae. He gives a brief description of the stones, which is recounted in George F. Kunz's book ‘The Curious Lore of Precious Stones’ (1913). The beryl, imitating the colors of the sea and air, suggests Thomas.