The article delves into the historical and personal journey of Philip Marsden, who connects his childhood passion for rocks with our broader cultural relationship with minerals. It starts with the tale of Emperor Elagabalus, a young priest turned Roman Emperor, who dedicated his reign to the veneration of a sacred stone. Marsden reflects on the duality of human fascination with minerals, which not only have inspired reverence and horror but have also played critical roles in art and violence. His travels from Cornish mines to Georgian gold deposits explore how minerals shape human experience and desire.
Marsden illustrates that our relationship with minerals stems from the depths of the earth and the cosmos, invoking feelings of reverence and horror alike.
He reveals his childhood passion for collecting rocks, discovering sparkling geodes that sparked an enduring sense of another hidden world waiting to be uncovered.
Collection
[
|
...
]