Amber in Historical Legends Across Time and Cultures

Amber, a gemstone formed from fossilized tree resin, holds historical, mythological, and cultural significance. Throughout the ages, it has symbolized light, protection, spirituality, and nature. This article explores various legends and symbolic meanings of amber across different cultures and eras.

The Ancient World: Amber as the Tears of the Gods

The ancient Greeks referred to amber as 'electron' due to its ability to attract small objects when rubbed. The Romans believed it possessed magical and healing properties. Pliny the Elder, in his encyclopaedia 'Natural History', dedicated an entire chapter to amber, where he also mentioned the ancient Greek legend of Faëthon, son of the god Helios.

Faëthon's Tale

According to legend, Faëthon, son of Helios, attempted to drive his father's sun chariot but lost control, bringing it too close to the earth and scorching it. Zeus punished him by striking him with lightning, causing Faëthon to fall into the river Eridanos and drown. His sisters, the Heliades, turned into poplars by the river, and their tears became amber, named "electron" after the Greek word for sun. This story was noted by many ancient poets.

The Perception of Amber in Roman Culture

Amber was given a somewhat less divine origin by the ancient Romans, who referred to it as "lyncurium" (also known as lyngurium or ligurium), meaning "lynx urine". They believed that this golden-coloured gem was formed from the fossilised urine of lynxes, with the highest quality - clear amber - being attributed to the fossilised urine of male lynxes. However, Pliny the Elder, in his encyclopaedia, correctly identified the true origin of amber as the resin of prehistoric trees.

Baltics: Amber Palace and Perkūnas' Wrath

Among the various types of amber discovered throughout the world, Baltic amber is renowned for its prominence. According to Baltic mythology, amber is regarded as the tears of the goddess Jūratė, the daughter of the thunder god Perkūnas.

Jūratė, a beautiful sea goddess, lived in her underwater palace, and protected all creatures in her kingdom. Despite warnings, a young fisherman named Kastytis fished in her realm. When Jūratė confronted him, they instantly fell in love with each other and Jūratė led her lover to her amber palace.

When her father heard about it, he was very angry. He sent thunder and lightning on the young couple. Kastytis died as a result of his wrath, and the amber palace was shattered into small pieces. Jurate remained trapped in the ruins of her underwater dwelling. Here she laments for Kastytis and their unfortunate love. Her lament causes the calm depths of the sea to ripple and churn, washing the remains of the ruined amber palace ashore. Among these pieces, amber fragments known as Jurate's tears wash up, symbolizing their tragic love.

Northern Europe: The Sun in Stone

Nordic people, like the Vikings, regarded amber as a sunstone formed from the sunset rays, embodying the energy of sunlight and life. They used amber in rituals and wore it as amulets for protection against dark forces.

These people linked amber to Freya, the goddess of love, fertility, beauty, war, death, gold, and magic. Freyja's Brisingamen necklace symbolizes fertility and protection. The name likely refers to "fire" or "amber" and a precious metal, though its origin is unclear. 

Legend says, Freya's husband travelled often, and her tears turned to gold and amber when they hit the ground. 

China and East Asia: The Soul of the Tiger

In ancient China, amber was known as the "soul of the tiger". Why is amber associated with this beast?

Legend has it that once upon a time, there was a hunter in the northeastern part of China. He was desperate to hunt a tiger. Demons terrorized his village, tormenting the poor villagers. They believed that only those who wear tiger fur and claws can defeat the demons.

In Chinese culture, the tiger is a beast with strong yang energy. It is the king of animals and feeds on evil demons. According to another legend, the mythical Shentu and Yulei would catch demons and spirits that harmed humans around the empire, tied them up under the peach tree on Mount Dushuo and feed them to the tigers. However, ordinary mortals don't have the miraculous powers of Shentu and Yulei. They can only face demons when they wear tiger skin and claws.

For this reason, hunter went into the mountains to hunt a tiger. He followed the tracks of a beast until he noticed that a huge tiger was following him. With one eye shining and the other seeing strange things, the beast was unpredictable, appearing and disappearing like the wind. After a month of tracking without success, the hunter saw nothing more of the tiger than its strange eyes. Suddenly, an old, white-bearded man appeared in front of him.

The hunter bowed and shared with him the concerns of the villagers. He also mentioned his unsuccessful attempts to hunt the tiger for its skin and claws, noting that the tiger had unusual eyes. The old man smiled at the hunter and said that he had come to help the hunter and the poor villagers.

The old man explained that the tiger's essence, cultivated for a century, lies in its shining eye. He then shared advice on how to conquer the tiger. The hunter followed the old man's guidance and successfully hunted the tiger.

After the moon set, he dug where the tiger's head lay until he found a gem glowing with a strange light. The gem was warm to the touch, hiding the essence of the king of beasts. The hunter hung this strange stone around his neck, tied the tiger's claws to his belt, and draped its skin over his shoulders. Then he rushed to the village to free the villagers from their demons.

At night, demons attacked the terrified villagers. The hunter stood up to them, and as the demons lunged at him, a bright glow emitted from the stone. The power of the tiger spirit turned the demons into smoke.

The hunter eliminated all the demons and ended the village's long suffering. Since then, people in the Far East have used amber as a talisman for protection against the dark forces and for attracting good luck.

Nowadays, amber is valued not only for its beauty, but also for its healing properties. It is associated with peace, harmony and protection. Amber is more than just a gemstone; it is a story told by the ancient nature, capturing millions of years of history. Whether it is perceived as divine tears, the soul of a tiger or the gift of the sea, its symbolism transcends time and cultures. Amber teaches us to look for the light in the darkness.