One of the earliest writers to associate with the apostles the symbolism of the gems given in Revelations is by Andreas, bishop of Caesurae. He gives a brief description of the stones, which is recounted in George F. Kunz's book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones (1913).
* The Beryl, imitating the colors of the sea and air, suggests Thomas. *
Beryl - An important mineral species that includes aquamarine and emerald. Lesser known varieties include goshenite (colorless), morganite (pink), Heliodor (yellow) and bixbite (red). Beryl is a transparent to translucent glassy mineral, essentially aluminum beryllium silicate, Be3Al2Si6O18, occurring in hexagonal prisms and constituting the chief source of beryllium. Transparent varieties in white, green, blue, yellow, or pink are valued as gems.
Beryl is found in Austria, Columbia, Brazil, Russia, East Africa, Australia, Madagascar, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Zambia, Nigeria, U.S.A., Afghanistan. The family name beryl is used to describe stones which are not distinctly green enough to be classified as emeralds or stones where the color may be borderline between yellow and green. Stones like these could be called green beryl or yellow green beryl. Green beryl can usually be heated to remove the green and improve the blue resulting in the more valuable variety, aquamarine.
Legends say that aquamarine (beryl) is the treasure of mermaids, with the power to keep sailors safe at sea. Aquamarine protects against the wiles of the devil. Gem lore says that a dream of aquamarine means that you will meet new friends. Heliodor (yellow/golden beryl) clears and soothes the emotions. Folklore attributes beryl with the ability to help heal the digestive organs, give courage and strength, dispel fear, bring good luck and good fortune, and increase intellect and creativity.