The Myths and Legends of Sapphire: Stories from the Ancients

Sapphires have fascinated jewellers and gemstone lovers for centuries, not just for their deep, celestial blue but for the legends woven around them. Across cultures and time, these gems have been symbols of wisdom, power, and divine connection. Whether you’re drawn to their history, their beauty, or their meaning, the stories behind sapphires offer endless inspiration.

The Persian Sapphire Sky

Ancient Persians held a beautiful belief about the sky’s rich blue colour. They imagined that the Earth rested upon an enormous sapphire, and its reflection cast the heavens in their brilliant hue. This legend reflects the deep reverence Persians had for the gemstone, associating it with the grandeur of nature itself.

For them, sapphires were not just precious stones but a symbol of the divine, linking the earth and sky in a cycle of beauty and wonder. To gaze upon a sapphire was to glimpse the very foundation of the world—a belief that gave the gem an almost sacred status.

King Solomon’s Sapphire Seal

The legendary King Solomon is said to have possessed a powerful ring known as the Seal of Solomon. In Jewish and Islamic traditions, this ring was believed to grant him wisdom and control over spirits and animals. The original legend describes the ring as being engraved with a divine inscription, often said to be the true source of Solomon’s power.

The ring allowed Solomon to command supernatural beings, communicate with animals, and rule with unparalleled wisdom. It was also said to play a role in building the magnificent temple in Jerusalem.

However, in medieval Europe, the legend evolved to suggest that the ring contained a sapphire, reinforcing the gemstone’s association with wisdom and divine insight. Over time, the ring was lost, and its whereabouts became the subject of countless tales—some claiming it waits to be rediscovered by one worthy of its power.

The Stone of Heaven

During the Middle Ages, sapphires were believed to be fragments of the Throne of Heaven that had shattered across the earth when it fell to Earth. (Although I did find reference to this throne being the seat of God, with a bible reference to the thrown looking like sapphire, I couldn’t find any explanation as to why it was said to have fallen to earth.)

However, the idea that sapphires were a part of gods thrown reinforced their status as symbols of divine wisdom, purity, and protection. Clergy and royalty prized sapphires for their supposed connection to God, believing they could grant spiritual insight and shield the wearer from harm.

Many religious relics were adorned with sapphires, and they were frequently set into the rings of bishops and kings as a sign of their divine right to rule. Whether seen as a piece of the celestial realm or a conduit to higher understanding, sapphires carried an aura of the sacred.

These legends remind us that sapphires are more than just gemstones—they are windows into history, symbols of wonder, and sources of inspiration for jewellers and collectors alike. From the temples of Persia to the courts of ancient kings, from the foundations of the earth to the Throne of Heaven, sapphires have captivated humanity for millennia.

Whether as a gift from the gods, a symbol of wisdom, or a guardian of fate, sapphires continue to hold an air of mystery and magic. And who knows? Perhaps the next sapphire you hold in your hands has its own untold story waiting to be discovered.