Beryl

Beryl

"Aquamarine is a light blue or bluish-green variety of beryl. Historians have likened it to “a thousand leagues of sunlit sea imprisoned in a cup.” It’s very name is descriptive of it’s color: aqua meaning water and marine meaning sea." Doesn't that description just fire your imagination? It sure does mine! Once again, as I studied this stone, I was just overwhelmed with how beautiful it is.

Part of piece called Foundation Stones
6" x 6" acrylic on canvas panel 
ready to frame  

According to writings of Pliny the Elder (23-79 a.d.), it is likely that the beryl mentioned in Exodus 28 and Revelation 21 is the aquamarine colored beryl. I just get so excited studying about these ancient jewels, and I wish I could see some! 

I just have one more stone to paint to finish out the 12 stones that were on the ephod of the high priest in the Old Testament (I keep getting distracted... ) and then I will move to the revelation passage of 12 stones. I am so excited to group these paintings and see how they appear all together. 

Exodus 28:15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it. 16 It shall be square and folded double, a span in length and a span in width. 17 You shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald; 18 and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond; 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree. 21 The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each according to his name for the twelve tribes"

Reference photo for beryl/aquamarine