Koh-i-Noor : Tracing the bloody diamond & why the British won't return it back
The queen mothers crown with the Koh-hi-Noor diamond at the center. (Wikimedia Commons) The Koh-i-Noor is said to be one of the oldest diamond and certainly one of the most famous diamonds in the world. The history of the diamond can be traced more 5000 years ago. "Koh-i-Noor" is a Persian term which translates to "Mountain of Light". Legend follows that the gem must only be worn by a god or a woman, a man who wears it shall only face misery and bad luck. Those who possess the gem shall own the world. In the past, battles have been fought over the diamond and for about 4 countries have argued about who shall keep it now. The bloodiest diamond has travelled its fair share of locations and it is worth tracing how the gem has travelled. Sayamantaka To 1500 : The diamond finds its first mention in a Sanskrit script, where it was termed the 'Syamataka'. There is speculation that the Koh-hi-Noor and the Syamataka are one and the same. The diamond f...
