The most important deposits of peridot are on the volcanic island of Zebirget in the Red Sea. According to Greek legend, vicious snakes lived on the island, guarding the precious stones and attacking anyone who dared to try to take them.

They early Egyptians claimed that peridot glowed by night but was invisible by day.

in the middle ages, peridot was believed to dispel the darkness and terrors of the night.

King Edward VII of England used to wear a peridot for good luck.