AMBER MYTHS

Amber was one of the reasons the Emperor Nero opened the trade routes with the Germanic tribes. Gladiators wore amulets of amber for protection while the ladies of the court dyed their hair to match their shades of amber.

During the Middle Ages extreme measures were taken to control the amber trade. Gallows were erected along the Baltic Sea to hang amber pirates.

Amber stirs the world's scientific imagination because intact pieces of DNA, life's basic genetic code, have been extracted from insects preserved in amber millions of years old.

Fine amber varnish is applied as a lack on violins.

The Greeks mythologized amber as the tears of Apollo's daughters.

Many cultures have used it as a powerful medicine. Duke Albrecht sent Martin Luther a good-sized chunk of "good" amber for his "bad" gallstone. Every European pharmacy in the 19th century offered amber mixtures of oils, powders and ointments to cure most any ill. Some of these concoctions are still dispensed today.

In Lithuania, an amber necklace was placed around a baby to keep the infant from being kidnapped. In Latvia, bands of amber rings were used in wedding ceremonies to ensure an eternal bond.

Amber is said to balance moods, instill confidence in the wearer and ease depression and anxiety.

Amber may have used by the Egyptians in the mummification process, possibly because it is a powerful desiccant.

In ancient times amber was believed by many to possess welfare strength and this strength could be measurably increased by inhaling the smoke from burning amber incense.

The Chinese burned chunks of raw amber as a sign of their wealth.

The Etruscans and the Romans used pieces of amber to remove lint from their clothes, having long known it generates static electricity by rubbing.