The Greek mythological literature if full of fascinating tales that attracts the young and old. One story explains the appearance of Onyx on earth. The Greek icon, Venus was asleep when a mischievous cupid cut her fingernails and flew away leaving the finger clips scattered on the ground. Later by the design of the god, these fingernails were transformed into stone that came to be known to the world as onyx. The name draws its origin from the word, onyx that in Greek language means fingernails.
In later history, the onyx became famous in the hands of Romans, who crafted beautiful seals out of onyx. The patterns were cut into negative reliefs that were famously called intaglios. The myth that this gemstone originated from the body parts of Venus, known for her alluring beauty, justifies the stone’s fine texture and lustrous black color.