UPDATE:  Solved by Kristian at 1:14

YAY!  Looks like we’re back on track for the weekly riddle.  You missed me, didn’t you?  I know you did; admit it.  I apologize for the abrupt “vacation”, but it truly could not be helped.

My DSL is spotty, so it may take me a moment or two to respond to your guesses.  Hang in there.  I’m around — I’m just trapped under a pile of collapsed internet.

So, let’s get to guessing!  You’ll look to the real world to find the answer to today’s riddle, although you could also find it in fantasy and fiction.

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Early man probably knew today’s answer, but it took a while to figure out its true nature.

This shows evidence of quite a violent early life.

For some reason, this is warm where it should be cool, and cool where it should be warm.

My favorite gemstone -- the aquamarine

To us, this is a giant — but among its own kind, it’s something of a pipsqueak.

Its arrangement is very much like a cherry.

In theory, this is a place where water gets weird.

I bet when this object was a child, it got teased about its name.

Speaking of names, something around this should make you think of British playwrights.

You will have read about this in the “Cthulhu Mythos”.

Jupiter's Great Red Spot and Junior - NASA

There you have it, nice and tidy and ready for you to solve.  Remember, if it takes me a minute or two to answer, I’m just digging my way out of a smoking pile of crashed internet.  Good luck!