Diamonds have come to represent the unbreakable bond of love between a woman and a man. They are used for engagement rings, wedding rings, and anniversary bands, and as tokens of love. But how did this symbolism come about?
Diamonds were first discovered in India over 2000 years ago. The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "Adams," meaning unconquerable. Diamonds are the hardest known substance on earth, which is how they earned their name. There are many ancient myths about diamonds. In Greek mythology, diamonds were tears of the gods; in Roman mythology, diamonds were splinters from the stars that Eros (the god of love) had made into tips for his arrows.
In some cultures, before engagement rings became popular, a man and a woman might divide a piece of silver or gold in half when they became engaged. Each would keep a half to broadcast their engagement to be married. Eventually, this evolved into the custom of the engagement ring. It as the Italians who improved on this tradition by attaching a diamond to the ring to symbolize enduring love. The popularity of the diamond engagement ring grew rapidly after 1477, when Archduke Maximillian of Austria slipped one on the finger of his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy.
Diamonds are not for engagement rings only; they are also used in wedding bands and many other types of jewelry. But whatever the reason a diamond is given, it has come to symbolize. |
