Many different stones share a common crystalline structure, and are referred to as part of the garnet family of stones. Garnets can come in a wide variety of color, but the word garnet comes from the Latin word for the pomegranate fruit, which has bright red seeds that look similar to garnet. 

In the Middle Ages, garnets were thought to have many different mystical properties, and were believed to be able to cure depression, protect against bad dreams, and cure hemorrhages and liver disease.

According to legend, the biblical character Noah used a garnet to illuminate his ark.