A while back we had some discussion about beads that in the regions of Iran and Afghanistan are called "sange Maryam." The stone is a fossil, usually dark reddish in color, and usually with yellow inclusions—that I believe are primarily sea shells and parts of mollusks (such as their radulai). Opinions vary.

The stone has recently become popular because the Chinese are making quite a few beads and ornaments from it, and they (or someone) have promoted a new and different name.

So, this is a post about the Afghan/Persian name.

Previously, I had asserted that the name means "stone of Mary" [or Miriam—almost the same name]. It was then suggested that [since I'm a dodo who knows nothing about language], the "sange" refers to blood, and the name means "blood of Mary." I replied that the name is not derived from Latin, and does not refer to blood—and that I had already considered all these possibilities previous to that time. [In point of fact, I am fairly well-attuned to languages, derivations, and evolutions. Plus, I cite sources I trust.]

OK, so here's what happened recently.

I was in a cab on my way to visit Billy Steinberg last week. The cab driver took a call, and spoke in his native language. When he completed the call I said "Are you a Persian?" He replied, "Do you speak Farsi?" I said, "No, but I recognize it, plus I see the donkey bead from Iran hanging in your window." Then I said, "Maybe you can help me with a translation issue. I have a Farsi word I would like an English translation for." He said, "What is the word?" I said "sange." He did not immediately recognize it, because of my accent/pronounciation. [I pronounced it "SAHN-gay." He corrected me, that it's "SAN-geh." The "san" is sounded like "sand" without the "d."]

He then said, "it means 'stone.'" I said, "thank you! That's exactely what I had been told, but some people I know said a different meaning." He then asked the context, and I told him the full name being questioned—and he conceeded it means "stone of Mary."

The photo seen here is a group of Sange Maryam beads from the collection of my friend Casey. It is unusual for including a couple of beads with red inclusions.

Jamey