THE ANCIENT MYTHS OF TIGER’S EYE

In the last seconds of its life, the prey of an attacking tiger is fixated on the dark spots on the back of the cat’s ears. Resembling two, intensely starring eyes, the prey is fixated, almost hypnotized by the intensity of this optical deception. Unable to break itself free from this spell, nature will take its turn.

Holding up a Tiger’s Eye into the sunlight, the intensity of the reflecting golden rays, its luminosity pulls in its viewers with a similar magnitude as its animal eponym. Gleaming like a cat’s eye, the stone came to its name, Tiger’s Eye.

Tiger’s Eye fueled the imagination of mankind since it was first discovered by ancient civilizations. Mysterious, powerful, sumptuous and warming are just some of the values attributed to it throughout time.

Emphasizing the mythological significance and preciousness of the stone, it has always been attributed to the tiger. Historically, the tiger has been worshipped and respected as a god-like creature, powerful, protecting and, long before Disney changed the picture, as the true king of the jungle.

Discovering its role in ancient myths, the tiger plays a central role especially in Chinese culture. The tiger is one of the 12 zodiac animals, fundamental to Chinese astrology. The characteristic markings on the fur of its forehead, forming the Chinese character for king (4 strokes), made the tiger the king in ancient Chinese tales. Along with the dragon, the phoenix and the turtle, the tiger is part of the four Chinese mythical creatures. All four of them have been major motifs across Chinese architecture, art and literature.

In Chinese folklore beliefs, the tiger is protecting the good, guarding it from the evil. Being a guardian spirit, Tiger’s Eye has often been carved into amulets and worn to ward off bad spirits, protecting its wearers.  

In ancient Egypt, the beautiful bands of gold displayed by the stone were widely believed to be the rays of the powerful sun god, embodied by the tiger. Tiger’s Eye was regarded as one of the most prized gems of the Nile River Valley. Legend goes that the stone holds the power of midday sun, the hottest time of the day and symbolic of the peak of the life force. Therefore, pharaohs and other high-ranking aristocrats of the Egyptian court wore jewelry made from Tiger’s Eye, believing it will give them vitality and strength. Beyond its strength, the stone represented the concept of the all-powerful eye and was a precious, sacred offering to include in the tombs of the pharaohs to help them navigate the after life.   

Not only early Chinese and Egyptians believed in the power of the Tiger’s Eye, the stone played a central role in Greek and Roman mythology too.  While the Greeks harnessed the power of Tiger’s Eye in jewelry to strengthen their senses for focus and protection; the Romans wore amulets made from Tiger’s Eye when going into battles. Seen as an embodiment of the tiger’s character traits of bravery, strategic thinking and patience, the Romans wore amulets of Tiger’s Eye to fight off any fear, to protect them and to give enough strength to win any battle.