Dating back to the most ancient writings, crystals and gemstones are recorded in Medieval poetry and by centuries of historians. Pliny the Elder, a Roman author, naturalist, and philosopher, described different precious stones, their origins and physical qualities. He wrote the encyclopedic Naturalis Historia, which became an editorial model for encyclopedias and likely where many modern day descriptions of healing stones are derived from. The word “crystal” comes from the Greek krystallos, literally meaning “coldness drawn together.”