Because ammonites resemble ram's horns, the ancient Egyptians considered them sacred to Ammon, the ram-headed god, whose own name (also variously transliterated as Amon, Amen, or Amun) meant 'the hidden one,' as he represented a mysterious, invisible creative power which was the source of all life. This is where the word "ammonite" comes from: "of the god Ammon."

Throughout Europe, the ammonites were interpreted instead as resembling coiled-up serpents. The story of Saint Patrick says that he banished all the snakes from Ireland; those which did not leave, he rolled down the hill, and then they turned to stone. Sometimes people would carve snake's heads on the end of ammonite fossils, to heighten their resemblance to petrified coiled serpents, and were sold to people wandering through. In Britain, ammonites are still commonly known as 'snake stones.'

In other parts of ancient Europe (no place specified) ammonites were called draconites, and were said to have been stones removed from inside the heads of dragons. There are many legends about stones removed from dragon's heads, but these are usually said to be dractonia, or sometimes carbuncles. Most reptiles and amphibians were considered to have these strange head-gems. Shakespeare referred to it once, saying how even the ugly toad has a beautiful gem within its head. This belief is probably based on how some lizards and snakes have a prominent 'pineal eye' or 'third eye.' No, it's not just a metaphysical term, it's an actual body part; it's not the same as a real eye, nor is it so much on the forehead as on the crown of the head. It resembles an oddly circular scale, and can detect simple changes in light.

Superstitions in Europe suggested that an ammonite be bound to a person's left arm, "for protection." As is common with superstitions, no reason is given for that association.

According to New Age and Neo-Pagan symbolism, fossils in general are associated with the element of "akasha:" the fifth element, quintessance, life, the sum of the four elements. This is because the fossils themselves are the remains of living things. Also for that reason, fossils are also associated with past-life regression. Their energy is said to be yin: watery, receptive, and feminine.

Ammonites are spiral-shaped. As symbols go, spirals are nearly synomymous with labyrinths, which represent the path/cycle/quest of life. Various philosophies and physicists say that time itself literally moves in a spiral or helix.

Bibliography.

Certified Bearpaw Ammonites http://www.ammonite.com/

"Ammonites." Enchanted Learning. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/glossary/Ammonite.shtml

Ammolite by Korite International Jewelry. http://www.korite.com/

"FAQ: The Egyptian Pantheon." Vibrani's One Source. http://www.vibrani.com/gods.htm

Cunningham, Scott. Crystal, Gem, & Metal Magic. St. Paul: Llewellyn, 1988.

Walker, Barbara. The Women's Dictionary of Secular and Sacred Objects. New York: Harper & Row, 1988.

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