Radiating a colorful fire from deep within, the opal has been prized since Antiquity. Within its depths one sees the rich variety of colors for which other gems are famed: the purple of amethyst, the red of ruby, the sea green of emerald, as well as gold and silver. The matrix for these sparks ranges in hue from milky white, to bright blue, to black. Mines in Hungary have produced fine opals since the Middle Ages, but the best modern source for the gem is considered to be Australia. The name of the gem is said to derive from the word ophthalmius, pertaining to the eye, and the stone is valued for its ability to avert evil. In the East, opals are much sought after as amulets to protect the wearer from disease. The stone is also said to be rewarded with beauty. A deep green member of the beryl family, the emerald is the rarest of the so-called precious gems. It has been mined since antiquity in both the old and new worlds. Queen Cleopatra of Egypt had mines near Zabara on the Red Sea coast, and wore emeralds herself or gave them as gifts to friends. In ancient America, emeralds were treasured by native cultures, particularly the Inca, who worshipped them as sacred. As a talisman, emerald is said to cure diseases of the eye, to free the body from poisons, and to arrest physical decay. It enhances dreams and meditation, and increases spiritual awareness. Its green beauty makes it as prized today as it has always been through history.