The name Topaz is believed to have come from either the Island of Topazios in the Red Sea or from the Sanskrit word "topas" meaning "fire". Alongside peridot, the Egyptians called topaz the “gem of the sun”, believing it was colored by the golden glow of the sun god Ra and was a powerful protector from harm. The Romans also associated topaz with their sun god and felt this gem could dispel enchantment and improve eyesight, while the Ancient Greeks thought it could increase strength and render one invisible in times of danger.