Amber
Amber is an organic gem. Organic gems come from living or once-living things. Amber formed millions of years ago, when sap from trees hardened and fossilized. Plants and animals were often trapped in this sap. Scientists like to study amber because the gems tell stories of the environment from long ago. Amber is also made into jewelry.
Colors
Like a pretty sunset, amber can be orange or golden brown. Like the colors of spring and summer, it is sometimes yellow or green.
History
1716
Amber Room
Around 300 years ago, the King of Prussia gave Russia’s Peter the Great a gift which was the Amber Room. The walls were made of six tons of amber!
Lore
The Greeks saw amber as sun rays that became hard. Amber was sacred to the sun god Apollo.
what's in a name?
Amber
[am-bur]
(noun)
The ancient Greek word for amber was "elektron," which means “made by the sun.” Rubbing amber causes an electrical charge and elektron is where the word “electricity” comes from.
VIEW ALL GEMS
