The ancient Egyptians were probably the first to use fluorite as a gemstone, both in the carving of statues as well as in the production of scarab amulets. The ancient Chinese also employed fluorite for gemstone carvings. There are many mentions of fluorite in ancient Roman texts. Pliny the Elder, the ancient Roman naturalist of Greek origin wrote of fluorite in 77 A.D. in his encyclopedia of natural history. Pliny describes fluorite as one of the world's most precious gemstones, and describes its healing and magical properties. In the ancient world many believed that fluorite was crystallized light, and as such, could bring light into the brain (enlightenment).