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Greek Mythology:
The god Eridanus was the keeper of the sacred river. These waters were said to be the origin of amber, as it banks were covered with the gem. The location of this fabled water has never been established. Some say it is the river Po, while others claim it is the tributary of the Atenian River Ilissus.
Chinese Mythology:
Somewhere are cliffs, the cliffs of Ning Chou in which dwell thousands of bees. When the Cliffs crumble, the bees come out. People burn them and make them into amber.
Ancient European Myths:
This golden gem is gathered in the Gardens of the Hesperides where the golden apples bring immortality to those who eat them. Amber is the dew from these apples and those who possess it could live forever.
The Myth of Phaeton and the Heliades: Greek
Phaeton, son of Phoebus Apollo, the Sun god drove his team of wild horses and chariot of the Sun. His journey started well but was careless in controlling the steeds; the horses bolted and pulled the chariot too close to the Earth, setting it ablaze. The entire planet was in flames, the forest burned, the land parched and rocks melted. Phaetons careless behavior led to the origins of volcanoes and vast desserts. To prevent the Earths total destruction, Zeus struck Phaeton dead with a lightning bolt, the Sun retreated from the Earth and Phaetons body fell into the River Eridanus. The nymphs of the stream pulled his body from the water and buried him on the riverbank. In time his three sisters; the Hiliades also known as Electrides, came to search for his grave. Upon finding it, they vowed to stay with their dead brother and morn him for eternity, as they wept, their bodies took root in the riverbank and were covered the bark of neighboring trees. Their arms became branches; their bodies trunks and the three sisters were gradually transformed into trees. Their tears continued to flow and as they hardened in the sun, were turned to amber. These amber tears fell into the river and traveled out to sea. When the tides come to the shore, the evidence of their sorrow is spread upon the sand.
The Myth of Jurate and Kastytis: Aistian (Ancient Ancestors of the Lituanians)
Once upon a time, there was a mermaid named Jurate that lived in an amber palace. Jurate was the fairest of all the goddesses who was promised in marriage to the god of water, Patrimpas. A handsome and courageous fisherman named Kastytis lived and worked along the coast of the Baltic Sea, near the mouth of the Sventoji River. He would cast his fishing nets in the sea over the kingdom of Jurate; this intrusion angered Jurate and sent her mermaids to warn Kastysis. Kastytis refused and continued to cast his nets. Jurate decided to come to the surface to confront Kastytis but instead feel in love with the handsome and courageous fisherman. Jurate brought him back to her amber palace to live with him. Jurates action angered Perkunas, god of thunder and father of all gods. To end Jurates ill-advised love, Perkunas sent a lighting bolt to kill her mortal lover, destroyed the amber palace and chained Jurate to the palace ruins to morn the loss of her lover for eternity. The tears she wept were pure amber when storms stir the Baltic Sea, fragments of her palace are washed onto the shore pieces that resemble tears are to be treasured as they are the tears of Jurate, washed from her eyes, clear and pure as the love she lost.
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