The name of of the stone comes from the Ancient Greek word iaspis, meaning “speckled”. There are also agate jasper or “jasper agate”. Black jaspers are called basanite. Dark jasper with reddish hues is called “bloodstone”; another name for it is heliotrope. Jasper with a characteristic pattern is called “landscape jasper”. Jasper with Prussian blue admixtures is known as German or Swiss lapis and is often used to imitate lapis lazuli. Prase is also a variety of green jasper. Depending on the colour pattern, there are brocade and multicoloured jaspers. Jasper, an opaque variety of quartz, comes in many colours: red, blue, violet, white and black. Single-colour jaspers exist, but they are often multicoloured stones with streaks and spots of different colours.
Jasper is one of the stones with special, mysterious properties. The talisman made of cool-coloured jasper gives the power of foresight and reveals what is hidden from the eye, while dark jasper protects wonderfully against the evil eye. Greenish jasper helps concentration and reveals what is invisible to the eye. Jasper has symbolised courage and modesty. This stone was believed to give its owner strength of spirit and to make them wiser. JJasper is the “stone of life”, as it strengthens the physical body and prolongs life.
