The glowing hue of the RUBY suggested the idea than an inextinguishable flame burned in this stone - the inner fire could not be hidden, as it would shine through the clothing or through any material wrapped around the stone. When RUBY is cast into the water, the RUBY communicated its heat to the liquid - causing it to boil.

The finest specimens of the gorgeous RUBY are found in Burma and was not only valued for its beauty, but also believed to confer invulnerability.  It is not sufficient to wear these stones in a ring or as a piece of jewelry, but the stone must be inserted in the flesh and confidently believed they cannot be wounded spear, sword or gun.

RUBY is the red variety of corundum, the second hardest natural mineral known to mankind. The non-red variety of corundum is Sapphire.  Dark red and star stones were called male RUBY and the pink and pigeon blood colors were called female RUBY. Some Rubies may contain inclusions of long rutile crystals.  This secondary mineral orients itself in the six-sided symmetrical pattern of the host crystal. Oriented rutile crystals inclusion causes a six-rayed-star light effect called asterism and the red color of RUBY is caused trace amounts of the element Chromium.

NAME:

RUBY comes from the Latin word Ruber - meaning red.  In Sanskrit RUBY have many names:  Ratnaraj - king of precious stones; Ratnanayaka - leader of precious stones; Padmaraga - red as the lotus; Kuruvinda and Tamil word Kurandam are names for the mineral corundum. The Romans included RUBY with other red stones under the name carbunculus.  RUBY is called Epitest in Greek. 

Oxford Dictionary, 1310 - where RUBY first appeared in print

Chaucer, Western Literature, 1380 - he wrote - "lyke RUBY ben your chekys rounde"

India - statues of Buddha usually adorned on the forehead with small RUBY.  Red signifies as a symbol of the reincarnation of this god

Indian Legend - contained in ancient Vedic texts - The origin of RUBY tells Vala, a demon god, who was slain and dismembered the demigods.  The parts of his body were scattered about the earth to create various gemstones.  Surya - the sun god, who then fled to the vastness of space, took the blood of the demon god.  The great king of Sri-Lanka, Ravana attempted to block the sun god's flight like the power of the solar eclipse, which frightened Surya, causing him to drop the blood, which fell into the deep pools of Bharata.  From then on the pools became sacred as the Ganges River and were known as Ravanda-Ganga.  The banks of these perfumed pools became covered with beautiful gemstones, Rubies and all other colors of corundum

Ancient Indian Legend - the origin of RUBY mines was due to three marvelous eggs were laid a Serpent in a nest.  The first egg hatched out the Mogul of Pag, the second the Emperor of China, and the third the Rumines of Burma

Burmese gem miners - held pale rubies, if buried would ripen to a deep color

Jan Heyghan, 1582 to 1593 - traveling in India wrote about RUBY

Ceylonese miners - flawed stones were considered over ripe

Hindus - believed RUBY gem contained an extinguishable fire, which would glow through clothing and had the ability to make water boil.  The light of a RUBY is believed to be the dwelling place chosen their gods.  As an offering to Krishna, the RUBY would bring reincarnation to the emperor, if considered a small Ruby; the worshiper may be reborn only as a king.  As a medicine, Ruwas said to be a cure for all diseases.  Hindus divided RUBY into four castes: (1) Brahmin - true Oriental Ru(2) Rubicille - A Kshatriya (3) Spinel - a Vaisya (4) balas-RUBY - a Sudra

Nahari, Physician of Kashmire, Thirteenth Century - notes RUBY to be a cure for flatulence and biliousness.  Another power of the RUBY stone - makes one invulnerable to wounds from sword, spear or gun if inserted on the flesh to become one with the body

Christian Lore, Fourth Century - Saint Epiphanius wrote RUBY's ability to shine in the darkness and can even be seen through one's robes

Lapidaire En Vers - Marbodus wrote Ruis "The most precious stones God created all creatures. Through Christ command, a RUBY was placed on Aaron's neck.  In many accounts the stone of Judah called Nophek, in the Breastplate of Aaron may have been a RUBY or Garnet

Martin Luther - stated that the betrothal ring was a gold ring set with a RUBY and engraved with scriptural passages

Western Lore, Thirteen Century - Marco Polo wrote that a Sinhalese monarch owned a red gem about four inches long, as thick as a finger, for which the Kublai Khan offered the value of the city

Phillipe de Valois, Lapidaire - wrote (1) the beautiful clear RUBY is the lord of stones; it is the gems of gems, and surpasses all other precious stones in virtue (2) assigned strong protective powers many authorities

Chevaliere Jean de Mandeville, Fourteenth Century - wrote RUBY is red, sparkling and dazzling found on the banks of the rivers of Paradise, near Alexandria.  The stone has many properties; it acquires and maintains power; it procures peace and agreements; it appeases anger and maintains seductions; it makes a person safe from all dangers; it will stop water boiling; emits red rays like fire; preserves fruits on trees and vines; saves houses from tempests

The Old Dream Book, Nineteenth Century - Jones states the RUBY indicates joy and good fortune - the more rubies the more joy and states the owner of the RUBY is feared enemies. The gem was also used as an aid medicinally: (1) when bruised in water relieves infirmities of the eyes (2) as a cure for disorders of the liver - the ancient method to cure was to place it on the tongue, which was rendered at once cold and heavy.  The fingers and toes also become cold and a violent shivering follows - the bad symptoms disappear and the cure is complete

Katherine of Aragon - the gem change color when Henry VIII considered divorcing her

Wolfgang Gabelchover - made a comment on the sixth book of the treatise De Gemmis Andrea Baccio: true Oriental Rufrequent change of color announces to the wearer some impending calamity or misfortunes