Mystical Jewels

Jewelry has always captivated with its beauty and the stories it holds. Mystical jewelry, on the other hand, goes beyond jewelry to embody stories of power, beauty, and curse. In this article, we take a look at four iconic mystical jewelry pieces and the stories that accompany them.

The Ring of Gyges

In his book "The Republic", Plato tells the fascinating story of Gyges, a simple shepherd from Lydia. One day, Gyges discovers a mysterious gold ring on the finger of a giant skeleton. As he puts it on, the ring begins to glow and the shepherd realizes that it gives him the power to become invisible. Intoxicated by this power, Gyges succumbs to temptation, using his invisibility to commit immoral acts, even going so far as to assassinate the king of Lydia and seize the throne. 

The ring of Gyges is thus associated with the temptation and corruption of power. Here, invisibility is a metaphor for absolute power. By using this power excessively, Gyges sees his ethics and morals suffer the consequences.

Draupnir: Odin's Ring

In Norse mythology, Draupnir is the magical ring of the god Odin, forged by the skilled craftsmen Brokk and Eitri from gold mined in the Rhine. Draupnir has the ability to increase its owner's wealth ninefold every nine days. However, this abundance comes with a curse that weighs on its owners, creating a cycle of prosperity and misfortune. 

The ring evokes the cycle of wealth and ruin, showing that wealth is not without consequences. This myth invites us to reflect on the futility of material wealth in the face of fate, which is itself inevitable. Draupnir here symbolizes the conflicts between greed and fatalism.

The Harmony Necklace

Zeus, the father of the Greek gods, made Cadmus king of Thebes and decided that he should marry Harmony, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. Harmony, born of Aphrodite's betrayal of Hephaestus, received a necklace from Hephaestus as a wedding gift. Harmony's Necklace, although a work of incomparable beauty, was cursed: it bestowed on its wearer irresistible beauty while bringing many misfortunes and disgraces. Harmony and all who inherited the jewel suffered these tragedies. 

This necklace is the perfect illustration of beauty mixed with misfortune. It represents how appearances can be deceptive and embodies the ideas of fate and curse in Greek mythology. This myth highlights how magical objects can exacerbate human weaknesses and family conflicts.

Angelique's Ring

In French mythology, the Angelica Ring belonged to Princess Angelica of Cathay, according to the legends of Charlemagne. This ring had the power to protect its wearer against all forms of enchantment and witchcraft. In addition, if placed in the mouth, it made its wearer invisible. A relic of extraordinary power, shrouded in mystery and magic.

Angelique's ring represents the idea that magical protection can provide a form of power and more in an often hostile world. It also shows the importance of discretion and personal safety in tales of chivalry and legend.

The Claddagh Ring

So, jewelry is more than an accessory. It has a real influence on its wearer, whether it is magical jewelry or not. The Claddagh ring is a perfect example. Devoid of magic, it nonetheless remains a powerful ring due to its symbolism. It has become an iconic symbol of Ireland, just like the harp or the shamrock. According to tradition, the Claddagh ring is shaped like two hands holding a crowned heart. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty. Thus, this ring has a triple meaning. To discover why its wearer chose it, you just have to observe the way it is worn.

- If the ring is worn on the right hand, with the heart pointing towards the fingertips, it is a friendship ring.

- If the ring is on the right hand, with the heart facing the wrist, it is an engagement ring, showing that the wearer's heart is already taken. 

- If this time the ring is worn on the left hand and the heart is directed towards the wrist, the ring is a wedding ring.

There are several legends about the Claddagh ring. One of them tells the story of a man, Richard Joyce, from Claddagh, a small Irish fishing village. It is the 18th century and at that time Ireland is plagued by numerous attacks by conquerors living off the slave trade. Richard Joyce leads a peaceful life until the eve of his wedding when he is kidnapped. Separated from his fiancée, he is taken by force to Turkey and sold as a slave to a Turkish goldsmith. He is then trained to make jewelry and ends up becoming a master goldsmith. In homage to his beloved, he creates a jewel: a ring symbolizing their union, decorated with a crowned heart. Richard Joyce eventually returns to his country. No one knows whether he managed to do so following an escape or whether, sensitive to Richard's sadness, his master goldsmith decided to give him back his freedom. In any case, Richard found his fiancée and gave her the jewel. They lived happily ever after and had many children.

Mystical jewels transcend fine jewelry to embody narratives of power, beauty, and curse. These legendary artifacts are a reminder that each jewel can carry profound meanings and lessons about the complexities of power and the consequences of human desire, connecting the art of jewelry to the timeless mysteries of humanity.