The History of Serpentine Jade
The History of Serpentine Jade A Timeless Journey Through Ancient Civilizations and Mystical Traditions See More The History Of Jade Serpentine gemstone was named in 1564 by Georgius Agricola (Georg Bauer) from the Latin “serpens” for its mottled and scaley appearance like a serpent or snake. It is also known by many trade names such as false jade and Teton jade. Serpentine is used mainly as a decorative stone or for ornamental objects. Serpentine gemstones have been used as a source of magnesium, in asbestos and for personal adornment or sculpture throughout history. Various serpentine minerals have even been used in architecture for thousands of years. In ancient times, serpentine was thought to be a cure for poison. Amulets of serpentine were worn to protect against snakebites or poisoning. Legend holds that a king was reputed to have insisted that his chalice be made of serpentine, as it was believed that if a poison were put into his drink in a serpentine vessel, the vessel would sweat on the outside. It was also believed that the effectiveness of a medicine was increased when drank from a serpentine vessel. However, serpentine has mainly been used to carve figurines or vases, which is