Samarian spinel

Samarian spinel

The Samarian Spinel is a 500 carat spinel gemstone that is the largest of its kind in the world. It is part of the Iranian Crown Jewels.

Origins

It, together with a smaller 270 carat Spinnel, were captured by the Persian King Nader Shah during his 18th century conquest of India. The smaller of the two Spinel bears a 350-year-old inscription attributing its ownership to Jehangir, a Mogul Emperor of India. Legend states that in response to court criticism for having inscribed his own name on the stone, the Emperor proclaimed "This stone shall make my name more famous than the entire dynasty of Tamerlane!" His prediction proved somewhat correct as the Tamerlane dynasty died out after 150 years, while Jehangir's name lives on inscribed on a number of gemstones found in the Iranian treasury.

The Samarian Spinel uniquely has a hole in it. According to a diary entry of the court physician to the Iranian Shah Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, the King told the physician that the stone once adorned the neck of the biblical golden calf, which the Israelites are said to have made while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments. The diamond was added later to conceal the hole. [http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/samarianspinel.html]

There is, however, no way to confirm the King's fanciful description and the diamond cover has since been lost.

References

*Meen & Tushingham, 1968: Bank Markazi Iran, 1971

External links

* [http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/samarianspinel.html Feature on Samarian Spinel]
* [http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/r-s-bk-quality5.htm A gemstone account]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spinel — General Category Oxide minerals Spinel group Chemical formula MgAl2O4 …   Wikipedia

  • List of gemstones — A number of gemstones have gained fame, either because of their size and beauty or because of the people who owned or wore them.A list of famous gemstones follows Aquamarines*The Giant Aquamarine Diamonds : See List of famous diamonds… …   Wikipedia

  • Tehran — This article is about the Iranian capital city. For other uses, see Tehran (disambiguation). Tehran تهران …   Wikipedia

  • Dizin — دیزین Dizin ski resort Location Tehran, Iran Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Niavaran Palace Complex — Pavilion Niavarān Palace Complex is a historical complex situated in the northern part of Tehran, Iran. It consists of several buildings and a museum. The Sahebqraniyeh Palace, from the time of Naser al Din Shah of Qajar dynasty, is also inside… …   Wikipedia

  • Carpet Museum of Iran — Carpet Museum of Iran, Tehran Located in Tehran, beside Laleh Park, and founded in 1976, the Carpet Museum of Iran exhibits a variety of Persian carpets from all over Iran, dating from 18th century to present. The museum s exhibition hall… …   Wikipedia

  • National Museum of Iran — The main entrance of building 1 of the museum is built in the style of Persia s Sassanidvaults, particularly the iwan of Ctesiphon …   Wikipedia

  • Darband, Tehran — The foot of Darband s popular hiking trail in Tehran …   Wikipedia

  • Iranian Crown Jewels — The Imperial Crown Jewels of Iran ( alternatively known as the Imperial Crown Jewels of Persia ) includes several elaborate Crowns and decorative Thrones, 30 tiaras and numerous aigrettes, a dozen jewel laden swords and shields, a vast amount of… …   Wikipedia

  • Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art — Established 1977 Location Laleh Park, Tehran, Iran Director …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”