Ancient India: The Diamond Eyes of Gods

Summary

This video script delves into the legendary history of diamonds, from Alexander the Great's encounter with the 'indestructible' gem in India to their divine symbolism in ancient cultures. It explores the myths, such as the Valley of Diamonds, and the scientific reality of diamond formation. The narrative traverses through time, detailing diamond mining's evolution, from India's ancient methods to the global trade that flourished under various empires. The script also touches on the impact of diamond mining on Indian society and the eventual decline of Indian mines with the discovery of new sources in South Africa and Brazil.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Diamonds were revered in ancient cultures, associated with divine power and invincibility, earning them a place among mythical treasures.
• 🌐 The name 'diamond' evolved from the Greek 'adamas,' meaning 'invincible,' and was linked to legends and divine equipment across various civilizations.
• 🏺 In Indian mythology, diamonds were connected to Indra, the chief god, symbolizing his power and used as 'eyes' in statues and as the 'vadra,' his thunderbolt weapon.
• ⛏ Diamond mining in India dates back at least 1600 years and was well-established, with detailed records in Sanskrit texts from the 4th century BC to the 6th century AD.
• 🌋 Diamonds form under extreme pressure or cold, typically in the Earth's mantle, and can reach the surface through volcanic eruptions, such as kimberlite pipes.
• 🌍 Historically, diamonds were tightly controlled and often forbidden from export in ancient India, remaining rare and mysterious to the outside world.
• 💍 The diamond trade evolved with time, from religious and cultural significance to personal ornamentation, with the development of various cuts like point cuts and table cuts.
• 🔮 Diamonds were a symbol of power and wealth for rulers, with the Mughal Emperors and other princes using them to enhance their prestige and fill their treasuries.
• 🚢 The arrival of European traders and the opening of new sea routes led to increased interest in Indian diamonds, breaking the export ban and introducing new cutting techniques.
• 💎 Some of the world's most famous diamonds, like the Kohinoor and the Hope Diamond, have origins in India and are associated with dramatic and often bloody histories.

Q & A

Who was Alexander the Great, and what was the legend about the jewel he found in India?

Alexander the Great was a Macedonian ruler and military leader who conquered much of the known world in the 4th century BC. According to legend, when he reached India, he found a jewel as invincible as himself, known as Adamas. This jewel was said to be harder than stone or steel, invulnerable, and capable of cutting anything.

What is the origin of the word 'diamond,' and how did it evolve from earlier languages?

The word 'diamond' evolved from the Greek word 'Adamas,' meaning 'that which conquers all.' Over time, this word transitioned through linguistic changes, eventually becoming 'diamont' in modern language.

How were diamonds viewed in ancient India, and what was their significance in religious and cultural contexts?

In ancient India, diamonds were considered divine and were associated with the god Indra. The Sanskrit word 'Vajra' meant both diamond and thunderbolt, symbolizing power and divine weaponry. Diamonds were also used as the eyes of gods in Hindu temples and were considered powerful symbols of invincibility.

What was the legend of the Valley of Diamonds, and how did people supposedly retrieve diamonds from this dangerous location?

The Valley of Diamonds was a mythical place described in medieval European and Islamic legends, where diamonds littered the ground, but it was inhabited by venomous serpents. According to the legend, locals would throw raw meat into the valley, and diamonds would stick to the meat. Eagles or the mythical Roc would then pick up the meat and fly it to their nests, allowing locals to retrieve the diamonds from there.

What did Marco Polo's account of diamond mining in India reveal about the process?

Marco Polo described diamond mining in India around the year 1300, explaining that diamonds were found in riverbeds after torrential rains washed through rocks and caverns. However, this was not their original location, as diamonds formed under extreme pressure deep within the Earth's mantle.

How do diamonds form, and where are they typically found?

Diamonds form from carbon atoms under extreme pressure or cold, either deep within the Earth's mantle or in outer space. On Earth, diamonds are found in specific areas, particularly in old, thick parts of the crust, such as in Canada, southern Africa, and India, often carried to the surface by geological eruptions called kimberlites.

How did diamonds spread from religious use to personal ornamentation in India?

In ancient India, diamonds were originally used in religious contexts, symbolizing divine power. Over time, however, they began to be used in personal jewelry, such as rings, earrings, and bracelets, becoming popular among the upper classes by the early centuries A.D. Indian jewelers also developed techniques like the 'point cut' to polish diamonds.

Why were diamond exports from India historically restricted, and how did this change over time?

Diamonds were historically viewed as symbols of divine power and invincibility in India, leading to strict controls on their export. Only lower-quality diamonds used for industrial purposes were exported. However, this restriction loosened in the 13th to 14th centuries, when Muslim rulers took over and began viewing diamonds as valuable ornaments rather than sacred objects.

What significant changes in diamond cutting and styles occurred during the 16th and 17th centuries?

By the 16th century, Indian rulers began showcasing table cuts, where the top facet of the diamond octahedron was cleaved, creating flat surfaces. This evolved into more advanced cuts like the rose cut and eventually the brilliant cut with 58 facets, which enhanced the diamond's reflective qualities. These styles became popular among rulers and emperors.

What role did Indian diamonds play in European and world history, especially during the Mughal and post-Mughal eras?

Indian diamonds were highly prized in Europe and other parts of the world. During the Mughal era, diamonds from India, particularly from the Golconda mines, were collected by emperors to showcase their wealth and power. Famous diamonds like the Kohinoor and Daria-i-Noor became part of royal collections and were often acquired through conquest or as gifts. Many diamonds ended up in European royal treasuries, including the British and Russian crown jewels.

Outlines

00:00

💎 The Legendary Origins of Diamonds

This paragraph delves into the mythical and historical beginnings of diamonds. It starts with the tale of Alexander the Great's discovery of diamonds in India, which were considered as invincible as he was. Diamonds were likened to divine weapons and were associated with gods in both Greek and Indian mythologies. The Sanskrit word 'vajra' symbolized the thunderbolt of the chief god Indra. The paragraph also touches on the legends of the Valley of Diamonds and the practical methods of diamond mining in India as described by Marco Polo. Diamonds are formed under extreme pressure or cold, typically found in the Earth's mantle or outer space, and can reach the surface through kimberlite eruptions. India, being part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, had a rich history of diamond mining, which was well-established by the time of Alexander's arrival.

05:02

📜 The Ancient Diamond Trade and Its Cultural Significance

Paragraph 2 discusses the cultural and economic importance of diamonds in ancient India. The 'ratna pariksha' text from the 4th to 6th century AD details the various types of diamonds, their qualities, and associated deities. Diamonds were categorized based on shape, color, clarity, and were assigned specific uses and prices. The export of high-quality diamonds was tightly controlled, with only smaller, lower-quality stones being used for trade, particularly for drilling and engraving other gemstones. The paragraph also highlights the Roman perspective on diamonds, where they were highly valued and mostly known to kings. The Indian diamond industry was a significant source of state revenue, and the traditional point cut was the prevalent form of diamond cutting and setting in jewelry.

10:03

🔍 The Evolution of Diamond Cutting and Global Trade

Paragraph 3 explores the changes in diamond mining and cutting techniques, as well as the expansion of the global diamond trade. With the rise of Muslim rulers in India, diamonds lost their divine connotations and became status symbols and sources of wealth. The diamond mines of Golconda flourished, and the production of diamonds peaked in the 1600s under the Mughal Empire. The paragraph details the evolution of diamond cutting from the point cut to the table cut, rose cut, and finally the brilliant cut. It also recounts the histories of famous diamonds like the Daria-i-Noor and the Koh-i-Noor, which were involved in political transactions and conquests. The paragraph concludes with the opening of new markets and the increased interest of European merchants in Indian diamonds.

15:03

🌍 The Globalization of the Diamond Industry

The final paragraph outlines the decline of India's diamond industry and the rise of new diamond sources in South Africa and Brazil. It discusses how the exhaustion of Indian mines and the discovery of large diamond deposits elsewhere led to a shift in the global diamond market. The paragraph also touches on the synthetic production of diamonds and the enduring legacy of India as the land of diamonds for two thousand years. It mentions the colorful histories of diamonds like the Hope Diamond, which passed through various owners and was associated with a curse. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the transformation of the diamond industry from a controlled trade to a global phenomenon.

Keywords

💡Adamas

Adamas, derived from the Greek word meaning 'indomitable' or 'that which conquers all,' refers to the invincibility and hardness of diamonds. In the video, Adamas is mentioned as an early name for diamonds, highlighting their legendary status and association with divine equipment. It underscores the historical perception of diamonds as not only precious stones but also symbols of power and invincibility.

💡Vadra

Vadra is a Sanskrit term that signifies both 'diamond' and 'thunderbolt.' In the context of the video, vadra is the name of the club wielded by the chief Hindu god, Indra, symbolizing his supreme power. This term illustrates the cultural and religious significance of diamonds in India, where they were revered as divine weapons and associated with the might of deities.

💡Kimberlite

Kimberlite is a type of rock formation that is crucial for diamond formation. As described in the video, kimberlites are created when material from the Earth's mantle is forcefully ejected to the surface, potentially carrying diamonds with it. This geological phenomenon is key to understanding where diamonds are found and how they reach the Earth's surface, making kimberlite a central concept in the video's exploration of diamond origins.

💡Ratna Pariksha

Ratna Pariksha is an ancient Indian text that discusses the evaluation and classification of gemstones, including diamonds. The video mentions this text as evidence of the advanced knowledge and trade of diamonds in ancient India. It exemplifies the historical significance and cultural value placed on diamonds, as well as the meticulous methods used to assess their quality and worth.

💡Point Cut

The Point Cut is an early form of diamond cutting that involves polishing the natural faces of the stone to create a flatter, more reflective surface. The video explains that this cut was popular in India for centuries due to its ability to preserve the diamond's size and transmit its 'divine power.' This term is significant as it reflects the evolution of diamond craftsmanship and the aesthetic preferences of the time.

💡Golconda

Golconda was a region in India renowned for its diamond mines, particularly during the peak of diamond production in the 1600s. The video discusses how Golconda's mines were a major source of diamonds for the Mughal Empire and other ruling powers, highlighting the region's historical importance in the diamond trade and its association with wealth and power.

💡Kohinoor

The Kohinoor, or 'Mountain of Light,' is one of the most famous diamonds mentioned in the video. It is said to have been taken from a Hindu goddess's statue during the Turkic invasions and later became part of various royal treasuries, including the British Crown Jewels. The Kohinoor's history exemplifies the often contentious and violent past of many famous diamonds, as well as their role in political and cultural exchanges.

💡Daria-i-Noor

The Daria-i-Noor, or 'Sea of Light,' is another renowned diamond discussed in the video. It was part of the Persian crown jewels and is known for its exceptional clarity and size. The Daria-i-Noor symbolizes the opulence and grandeur of the Mughal Empire and the high value placed on diamonds as symbols of power and wealth.

💡Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond is a deep blue diamond with a storied history of ownership and alleged curses, as mentioned in the video. It is an example of how diamonds can acquire legendary status and cultural significance beyond their material value. The Hope Diamond's narrative contributes to the video's exploration of the mystique and allure surrounding famous diamonds.

💡Diamond Cutting

Diamond Cutting is the process of shaping a rough diamond into a faceted gem to enhance its beauty and brilliance. The video outlines the evolution of cutting techniques from the Point Cut to the more complex Brilliant Cut with 58 facets. This progression reflects the increasing sophistication of diamond craftsmanship and the industry's response to changing aesthetic tastes and technological advancements.

Highlights

Alexander the Great found a jewel in India that was as invincible as himself, which was later called Adamas.

Diamonds were associated with divine equipment like the lightning of Zeus and the hammer of Hephaestus.

The Sanskrit word 'vajra' meant both diamond and thunderbolt, symbolizing the power of the chief God Indra.

Diamonds were believed to be found in a Valley of Diamonds, protected by venomous serpents.

Locals retrieved diamonds by throwing meat over cliffs for eagles to carry back, as per medieval legends.

Marco Polo provided an account of diamond mining in India around 1300, mentioning riverbed searches.

Diamonds form under extreme pressure or cold, found in Earth's mantle or outer space.

Diamonds are brought to the surface via kimberlite eruptions, which occur in ancient crust regions.

India's diamond mining was a major source of state revenue, with strict export controls.

Diamonds were used for religious empowerment and personal ornamentation in ancient India.

The Ratna Pariksha text detailed diamond evaluation and use, suggesting various types and appropriate uses.

Diamonds were highly valued by Romans but were rare and often of low quality.

Indian diamond mining was an ancient industry, with evidence dating back to the 4th Century BC.

Diamonds were initially used in their natural octahedral forms before the development of cutting techniques.

The point cut became popular in India, preserving much of the diamond's material.

Diamonds were forbidden for export from India, remaining rare and mysterious outside the region.

The diamond export ban was lifted in the 13th to 14th centuries under new Muslim rulers.

Diamond mining in India peaked in the 1600s under the Mogul Emperors, who saw it as a source of power and revenue.

The Daria-i-Noor and the Kohinoor are famous diamonds with bloody histories, changing hands over centuries.

The Hope Diamond, originally bought in Golconda, is known for its alleged curse causing misfortune.

The exhaustion of Indian diamond mines in the 1800s led to the discovery of new sources in South Africa and Brazil.

Today, diamonds can be synthesized in laboratories, but for two thousand years, India was the unrivaled source of diamonds.

Transcripts

[Music]

thank you

when Alexander the Great reached India

he found a jewel as Invincible as

himself or so the Legends tell harder

than stone or steel it gleamed like the

sun and could cut anything while itself

invulnerable it soon joined the

lightning of Zeus the hammer of

hephestos and the girdle of Aphrodite in

the list of divine equipment referenced

by Poets and storytellers under the name

Adamas this meant that which conquers

all and was sometimes rendered ottoman

from there it was only a slight

linguistic detour to its modern name

diamont then diamond

in Hellenistic grease it remained with

the gods and just about as mythical to

the east though diamonds were real

though they had their Divine aspects in

India too the Sanskrit word vadra meant

both diamond and Thunderbolt And as in

Greece it was the all-conquering weapon

of the chief God Indra

the club that symbolized his power was

and still is called the vadra and

statues of Indra and other gods in

ancient Hindu temples had diamonds for

eyes

but Earthly rulers of India got a share

of the rare jewels as well medieval

European and Islamic Legends including

the Arabian Knights would later claim

that there existed a single Valley of

the diamonds where the precious stones

littered the ground

it was supposed to be a deep ravine in

the middle of a high mountain and it was

inhabited by serpents so venomous that

no man could get close and live to tell

the tale

the stories went on to describe how the

local inhabitants flung chunks of raw

meat over the cliff onto the valley

floor so that the diamonds would stick

to them Eagles or in the Arabic version

the legendary rock would snatch up the

meat and diamonds from the midst of the

snakes and fly back up to their nests

whereupon the locals would climb up and

retrieve the gems

alongside this Legend Marco Polo gave a

less picturesque but more accurate

account of diamond mining in India

around 1300. during the rainy season the

water descends in violent torrents among

the rocks and caverns and when it has

subsided the people searched for

diamonds in the riverbeds where they

find many

this was not however their original

location

diamonds are an arrangement of carbon

atoms that requires either incredible

pressure or incredible cold to form and

as such they are found in two places the

Earth's mantle or outer space all known

space diamonds are a few nanometers

across hardly enough for even a

microscopic engagement ring but diamonds

can grow to large sizes in the Earth's

mantle and sometimes they make it to the

surface in a sort of geologic high-speed

train called a kimberlite

this is a pipe-shaped jumble of rocks

created when material from the Earth's

mantle is suddenly blown almost 100

kilometers up through the crust at

supersonic speed

nobody quite knows why but these

eruptions seem to happen in the ancient

cold thick parts of the crust found in

places like interior Canada and southern

Africa and of course India which for

most diverse history was actually

attached to Southern Africa but broke

off during the Cretaceous and zoomed

Northeast where it slammed into the

Eurasian tectonic plate and rumbled up

the Himalayas

Rivers running down through the Deccan

Plateau eroded diamonds out of the

kimberlite rocks and left them in stream

gravel where miners dug them up and

separated them this was much cheaper

than mining serpent-infested valleys

with eagles and raw meat

unfortunately Polo's few sentences are

the earliest account of diamond mining

him itself which by his time was at

least a 1600 year old industry in India

Sanskrit texts ranging from the 4th

Century BC to the 6th Century 80 show

that the mining trade evaluation and use

of diamonds was already well established

in India when Alexander got there by the

time the ratna pariksha was written

diamonds were coming from at least eight

different minds and in numerous types

Each of which had a particular shape

color Clarity and deity associated with

it each also had a different range of

prices depending on its quality and the

ratna pariksha's author also helpfully

suggested what uses are appropriate for

the various types large or small he says

a diamond with visible defects is useful

only for lapidary work engraving or

polishing other gemstones a woman who

wishes to Bear Sons must wear a diamond

only if it is flat triangular and

featureless if a large and perfect

diamond is damaged while being mounted

it should not be given to the king

whereas the king who wears a diamond of

perfect quality is invincible and can

make himself master of all the lands

around him

given that they were viewed as both

indra's Divine Thunderbolt and an

Earthly super weapon it's not surprising

that the export of diamonds from ancient

India appears to have been tightly

controlled if not forbidden outright

that was especially true of the stones

whose quality Clarity size and color

made them suitable for jewelry

a few small poor quality diamonds or

diamond chips were being used for

drilling and Engraving other gemstones

around the Persian Gulf from at least

the 4th Century BC a practice that

continued well into the Middle Ages and

Beyond but the good stuff stayed closer

to home while the Sanskrit literature

treats diamonds as something that an

average upper class woman should

carefully select for the Roman writer

Pliny they were the most highly valued

of human possessions known only to Kings

and to very few even of them

even in the 3rd Century A.D the Romans

had only a few gem diamonds most of

which were in the Eastern reaches of

their empire around Syria and most of

those appear to have been the rejects

from the Indian gem industry all known

examples are tiny and not a very high

quality the Indian diamonds found in

ancient rings from Pakistan and

Afghanistan hundreds of years before the

Roman versions in Syria are actually

larger and better

there are no written records of

production so we don't know exactly how

long or how continuously the diamond

mines of India operated but diamonds

themselves show up in India and

surrounding areas from the last few

centuries BC and the Sanskrit texts

describe diamond mining and

Merchandising as a major source of state

revenue there was as yet no diamond

cutting the earliest gem diamonds were

just set in their natural octahedral

forms over time these became slightly

embellished at least by the early

centuries A.D Indian Jewelers began

using small chips of low quality diamond

to polish the natural faces of the

larger high quality Stones leading to a

flatter and more reflective set of

facets this became known as the point

cut and it remained one of the most

popular Styles in India for many

centuries

since not much of the diamond had to be

removed to make this the point cut

didn't waste material and it led to

rather large Stones being preserved the

shape may also have been seen as the

optimal configuration for transmitting

the divine power of the diamond

settings were often made so as to allow

the lower tip of the octahedron to touch

the wearer's finger

by the early centuries A.D the uses of

diamond had spread from religious

empowerment to include also personal

ornament judging by the spread of rings

earrings bracelets and anklets featuring

Point cuts

over the rest of the first Millennium

A.D Diamond Jewelry seems to have

remained popular among India's upper

classes while dynasties came and went

and Empires formed and fell there is no

evidence for anything other than the

traditional point cut in quartz was

often ground and Polished into octahedra

as a cheaper substitute or perhaps a

lucrative forgery some of the jewelry

was worn some of it was left in temples

as offerings to Gods whose eyes might

have been larger diamonds still

but for all their abundance in India the

export of diamonds was still forbidden

and they remained rare in mysterious

outside even in the Islamic World which

by the 9th century was getting quite

close to India only Kings could afford

even small diamonds The Scholar al-kindi

recorded in the late 9th century that in

spite of his Royal connections he had

never seen one larger than a pine nut

jewelry with small octahedral diamonds

is known from Pakistan Afghanistan and

Southeastern Asia but none reached

Europe then or for centuries later the

diamond export van was still in place in

the 1200s says a Muslim traveler and

only these small low quality stones used

in lapidary work were Exempted Marco

Polo similarly complained you must not

suppose that the good diamonds are sent

to Christians for they are carried to

the great Khan and to the Kings and

Chiefs of that country

India's Diamond export ban however did

not last much longer under the Hindu and

Buddhist rulers of earlier days diamonds

had been the eyes of gods and the

Invincible weapons of Kings this

connotation of power may have been what

protected them from export but in the

13th to 14th centuries a series of

invasions by turkic armies brought large

parts of India under the control of an

entirely new set of rulers mainly Muslim

who did not share in the culture that

venerated diamonds as Peerless Divine

armament for these diamonds were merely

one ornamental gemstone among others

and in that view the purpose of a

diamond was to Showcase a Sultan's Glory

or to enlarge his treasury with

considerable encouragement from the new

rulers activity in the diamond mine

sword most of it was concentrated in

Golconda where tens of thousands of

workers dug gravel of each mine and

washed it in baskets production hit its

peak in the 1600s as the Mogul Emperors

and various reigning princes saw the

gemstones as a way to enhance their

power Prestige and revenues not only did

they collect a 50 excise tax on the

greens assault and tobacco consumed in

mining settlements the largest and best

Stones were automatically Royal Property

meanwhile the miners toiled under harsh

conditions for low wages and were

searched upon exiting the work site

those caught stealing diamonds along

with their entire families that were

sold into slavery though one Dutch

Trader commented that given the labor

conditions and the minds this might

actually have been an improvement

by this point the Indian Coastline

played host to Merchants for Many

Nations and they were starting to take

an avid interest in buying diamonds

Europeans in particular were flush with

money made from Silver mined in Spanish

America and the invention of the caravel

had enabled them to cut out the Islamic

middlemen and sail straight to India and

now the diamonds they saw were available

in more shapes than ever before the

signs of the classical point cut rulers

like to Showcase their wealth with table

Cuts formed by cleaving the top facet of

the octahedron along one of the

diamond's many planes of weaker than

usual Atomic bonding

this cut had originated probably in the

1500s and by The Next Century it was

soaring in popularity the Mogul Emperor

Shah Jahan adorned his throne with an

enormous table cut diamond in a rare

pale pink color so clear that its modern

Remnant is known as the Daria e Noor or

sea of light

from table Cuts technology and taste

evolved to Rose Cuts pear shapes and

finally the brilliant cut with no less

than 58 facets in the later 1600s

this was the century when many of the

world's most famous diamonds began their

long and usually bloody histories the

Daria enur went to Persia in 1739 as

part of the ransom paid by the Mughal

Emperors to the Persian Shah who had

just occupied Delhi and it's still part

of the Persian crown jewels on its

Journey it was accompanied by the great

Mogul Diamond which was sold to a

Persian Jewel dealer who sold it to a

Russian count named Gregory orloff he in

turn gave it to Catherine the Great in

an unsuccessful attempt to resuscitate

their romance and today it sits among

the Russian crown jewels

still more famous was the third great

Golconda Diamond taken by the Shah the

Kohinoor or mountain of light

Legend has it that this had once been

the left eye of the Hindu goddess

bhadrakali in a temple in central India

after the turkic invasions it too made

its way into the mobile throne and was

carried with it to Persia in the Shah's

alleged ten thousand wagon loads of loot

one of his grandsons used it to buy the

Loyalty of the emperor of Afghanistan

the grandson of that Emperor forced to

flee to Lahore surrendered the diamond

to its Maharaja in 1813 when the British

annexed Lahore later that Century they

took care to Annex the Kohinoor II at

present it is claimed as State Property

by the British the Indians the

pakistanis and the Taliban

even diamonds that were purchased rather

than looted managed to obtain colorful

histories the French Merchant traveler

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier bought a blue

diamond in Golconda in the 1660s which

he brought to Paris and later sold to

Louis XIV it was stolen during the

French Revolution and turned up slightly

recut in the hands of a British Merchant

just days after the 20-year statute of

limitations on its theft expired it was

sold to a banker named Thomas hope who

gave the Hope Diamond its name

afterwards it passed through various

British Turkish and American hands along

the way being blamed for every suicide

accident mental illness bankruptcy and

failed relationship that befell anyone

in the same zip code when a 45-carat

deep blue diamond can't Market itself

well a historic curse makes a good

addition

in the 1800s the diamond mines of India

were already nearing exhaustion when

explorers in South Africa and Brazil

found Kimber lights with diamonds

rivaling those from Golconda in size and

quality Diamond rushes ensued the

industry of what was by then British

India collapsed and other diamonds

surged onto the market

today we can synthesize in the

laboratory octahedral carbon allotropes

as large and Flawless as Nature's Best

But for two thousand years India was

unrivaled as the land of diamonds

foreign