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Non vegetale, anche se ramificato, come fu scoperto solo agli inizi del ‘700 dal medico marsigliese Peissonnel, non minerale anche se pietrificato, ma secrezione calcarea prodotta da colonie di microrganismi e quindi di origine animale, il corallo rosso del mediterraneo ha sedotto tutti i popoli che ne sono venuti in contatto , creando tra questi un legame particolare formato dalle virtù portentose che nei secoli e tra i popoli, tutti gli hanno attribuito . Sin dai tempi più remoti corallo e magia si rincorrono, si intrecciano confondendosi tra superstizioni, riti scaramantici o solo benaugurali ; e l’aspetto forse più strabiliante è che per tutti i popoli rappresentati , dai Mongoli agli Indiani, dai Cinesi agli Indiani d’America, ma anche in Yemen, Turchia, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Maghreb ed Europa, nel corso dei secoli, al corallo è stato universalmente riconosciuto il potere di portafortuna. La “via della seta”, che già duemila anni fa partiva dalla Cina settentrionale, attraversava le steppe dell’ Asia centrale e arrivava in Occidente , e la “via delle spezie”, che collegava il profondo sud della penisola arabica con il Mare Nostrum, erano state percorse anche in senso inverso dai mercanti coraggiosi che dal Mediterraneo si spinsero fino all’estremo oriente, utilizzando il corallo rosso come merce di scambio e favorendo così la sua perfetta assimilazione con gli usi locali.
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The origin of the coral has for centuries been shrouded in legend: Ovid's "Metamorphoses" and Pliny the Elder in his "Naturalis Historia" recognize the coral the same mythical genesis, the blood continued to drip from the severed head of the gorgon Medusa, is transformed coral. Its color is warm and alive, the marine origin, its ambiguous nature must have greatly impressed the first peoples of the Mediterranean basin that have thus begun to work it and make it known throughout the world. Do not plant, even if branched, as was discovered only at the beginning of the '700 Peissonnel Marseille doctor, even if not mineral petrified, but calcareous secretion produced by colonies of microorganisms of animal origin and therefore, the red coral of the Mediterranean has seduced all peoples who have come into contact, creating a special bond formed between these virtues and miraculous that over the centuries among peoples, all have given. Since ancient times coral magic and chase each other, intertwine mingling of superstition, superstitious rites, or just good luck, perhaps the most amazing aspect is that for all the peoples represented, from the Mongols to the Indians, from Chinese to American Indians, but also in Yemen, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, North Africa and Europe, over the centuries, the coral has been universally recognized the power of luck. The "Silk Road", which started two thousand years ago from northern China, across the steppes of 'Central Asia and arrived in the West, and the "spice route", connecting the deep south of the Arabian Peninsula with the Mare Nostrum, had been traversed in the opposite direction from merchants brave the Mediterranean to the Far East is pushed, using the red coral as a bargaining chip, and thus promoting his perfect assimilation with local custom. In fact, the coral has always been fascinated by its contradictory nature: non-mineral, even though petrified, even if non-vegetable-shaped tree, although non-animal-colored blood. Coral apotropaic powers were attributed to strong, superstitious, propitiatory and therapeutic skills to welfare, fertility, longevity, also ethnic jewelry, coral, added to the virtues of defensive element typical red auspicious power further enhanced by the particular forms, drawings, written by, of all their culture of origin. In summary, the jewel in many cultures is a "defense" as well as beautify, expresses the economic status of the person and especially the function of protecting the weare
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