A Game of Stones Online Quiz | General

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. So you probably know that the January birthstone is a garnet, right? From what fruit does its name originate?

Answer: Pomegranate

Yes, it's a pomegranate! The name comes from the ancient Greek myth concerning Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She was abducted by Hades and, as a result, forced to spend a third of the year in the Underworld because she had eaten the seeds of the pomegranate fruit.

The Phoenicians (a people similar to the ancient Greeks) called the pomegranate 'punica geranatum'. The Latin word derived from this is 'granatus', which translates as 'seed'. The word garnet comes from the Latin translation.

So next time you wear garnet jewellery, think of pomegranate seeds!

2. The February birthstone is an amethyst, but what malady is this precious stone said to cure?

Answer: Hangovers

All those pub-goers will now be rushing to buy amethysts!

We cross to a myth from Ancient Rome involving the god of wine, Bacchus. He was reputedly in a bad mood one day (one guess as to the cause!) while out walking with his tiger and decided to take his anger out on the first person to cross his path. Unfortunately, the victim was a beautiful maiden called Amethyst on her way to Diana's temple. His tiger tore her to shreds. When Diana arrived at the scene, she turned the maiden's body into a pillar of white stone. Feeling guilty, Bacchus took his best bottle of wine and poured it over the pillar, creating the violet amethyst stone that we know today. Or so the legend goes anyway!

3. The March birthstone is aquamarine, but this was not always the case. In the UK, what was the original birthstone of March up until 1912?

Answer: Bloodstone

The traditional birthstone for March was the bloodstone or heliotrope. It was only changed to aquamarine in 1912 by a trade association of jewellers.

4. April's birthstone is a diamond, the jewel that all the girls want! Today it is common for engagement rings to be inset with a diamond, but one of the first records of this tradition dates to 1477. Which lucky lady received a diamond ring from her betrothed?

Answer: Mary of Burgundy

Archduke Maximilian of Austria, later Holy Roman Emperor, sent Mary of Burgundy a ring inlaid with diamonds in the shape of the letter "M". They were married in Ghent on 13th August 1477.

5. May's birthstone is the emerald. "The Emerald Isle" is a notable use of the gem to represent Ireland's green shores. Where, however, was the largest uncut emerald found in 1974?

Answer: Brazil

Found in Carnaiba, Brazil, the emerald was a whopping 86,136-carats and was once valued at $1,120,080 USD.

An emerald crystal found in Colombia was 7,025-carats.

In 2004, Zambia produced 20% of the world's gem-quality emeralds and was ranked second only to Colombia.

6. June's birthstone is the pearl. Sourced from underwater, natural pearls have become increasingly rare. Cultured pearls, however, are being produced by man - meaning the creation of a pearl is being instigated artificially. When did this practice start?

Answer: 14th Century

The Chinese began to produce cultured pearls as early as the 14th century. They used lead to form the nucleus, which was introduced into the lining of freshwater mussels. They were returned to the water and left for several months before being cultivated.

7. Ruby is the birthstone for July. The stone is a variety of the mineral 'corundum', but what is it that gives rubies their red colour?

Answer: Chromium

Rubies are actually the only form of coloured corundum that are red. All others are sapphire.

8. Peridot, the birthstone for August, was the national gem for which ancient civilisation?

Answer: Egypt

Egyptians called the peridot the "gem of the sun". Peridots were often set in gold, which was considered the metal of the sun, and were used to ward off evil and dispel nightmares. It is one of the few gemstones that comes in only one colour, pale green, although it can have various shades.

9. The sapphire is the birthstone for September (my own birthstone!). There are many ancient theories regarding sapphires. One such theory is that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflections turned the sky blue. Which civilisation believed this?

Answer: Persian

The Persian word "saffir" is also a possible origin for the word "sapphire". It means "beloved of Saturn".

10. October's birthstone is the opal. True or false: opals were considered so unlucky by the Victorians that Queen Victoria ordered her daughters not to wear them.

Answer: False

While opals were considered unlucky, Queen Victoria seems to have dismissed the superstition. She presented each of her daughters with opals on the occasion of their weddings.

11. The largest uncut topaz - the birthstone of November - was found in Brazil and weighed in at almost 600 pounds. It is displayed at which museum?

Answer: American Museum of Natural History - New York

This topaz is at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. It was found in Fazenda do Funil at the Minas Gerais in Brazil.

12. The turquoise is the traditional birthstone for December. True or false: it was highly regarded by the Ancient Egyptians and was even inlaid in the burial mask of Tutankhamen.

Answer: True

King Tut's death mask was inlaid with turquoise. The gem was associated with the Egyptian goddess Hathor. It is thought to be the first gemstone to be imitated in an artificially glazed product known as 'faience'. The Egyptians really did like this stone!

13. This fossilised resin has been used as a precious gem since prehistoric times, only being predated in use by the pearl. What is it?

Answer: Amber

It is believed that amber was being traded before 2000 BC! In Viking mythology, amber was said to be the tears shed by Freya when Odin left to wander the world. Many beads made from the resin have been found in Viking grave sites. The Chinese believed amber to be the soul of a tiger transformed into the mineral after death.

14. Most of the lore of the carnelian comes from Ancient Egypt. It was used to still feelings of envy, hatred and rage which were associated with which Egyptian god?

Answer: Seth

Seth was the God of deserts and storms, a violent character who murdered his brother Osiris. The carnelian was thought to suppress the emotions associated with him, and it was also believed to repel psychic attacks.

15. Hecatolite is the alternative name for which revered gemstone?

Answer: Moonstone

Hecatolite another name for moonstone! As you can probably guess, it was named for its association with the moon. In Hindu mythology, the stone was believed to have been made of solidified moonbeams. Also, across various mythologies and cultures, the stone was believed to open the heart, thus it has long been thought of as a stone for lovers.

Source: Author ScottishGal

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

A Game of Stones Trivia Quiz

The title explains all....or does it? Can you play the Game of Stones? (The birthstones used for each month are the UK version. Other countries may have ones that are slightly different. Regardless, enjoy!)

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