In medieval times, Christians used bloodstone for
sculptured bas-reliefs depicting the martyred saints and
Christ’s crucifixion—thus the name “martyr’s stone.” The
myth behind bloodstone is that some of Christ’s blood dripped down and stained jasper that lay at the foot of the cross. In the great
Louvre Museum, in Paris, is the seal of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II carved
into bloodstone. The ancient Egyptians loved bloodstone and gifted it to pharaohs,
great warriors, and kings, believing it had the power to calm their tempers and prevent wrath and bloodshed.
An ancient book of Egyptian magic, known as The Leyden Papyrus, recorded the
high regard for bloodstone: “The world has no greater thing; if any one have
this with him he will be given whatever he asks for; it also assuages the wrath
of kings and despots, and whatever the wearer says will be believed. Whoever
bears this stone, which is a gem, and pronounces the name engraved upon it,
will find all doors open while bonds and stone walls will be rent asunder.”
Damigeron, a classic historian, wrote that bloodstone could disclose the future
through what were called audible oracles and could also change the weather. He
further claimed that this favored stone kept the mind sharp and the body healthy
and protected the reputation of anyone who wore it.
