CATALOGUE OF GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES. 153 



inal properties which, under the proper sign, rendered them of service 

 to men. Thus — 



[b_ ] Saturn Turquoise, sapphire. 



[11] Jupiter. . .. Carnelian, topaz, amethyst. 



[c?] Mars Jasper, emerald. 



[9 ] Venus Emerald, amethyst, topaz. 



[$ ] Mercury. . . Crystal, agate, emerald. 



[J)] Moon Moonstone, topaz, and all white stones. 



[©] Sun Diamond, ruby. 



The Hindu propitiated hostile stars by the bestowal of gems. If the 

 sun was hostile, a pure ruby; the moon, a good pearl; if sani, a star 

 affecting to a powerful degree the destinies of men, a sapphire. He 

 also averted the evil effects of adverse astral influences by wearing 

 certain stones. If the sun was adverse, the cat's-eye; if the moon, 

 the sapphire, etc. 



The mystic ascribed a certain significance both to the gem and to 

 its various colors. For example, white was the emblem of light, 

 purity, faith, innocence, joy, and life; worn by women it was emblem- 

 atic of chastity; by the ruler, of humility and integrity. Ked sig- 

 nified pure love and wisdom; in other sense it signified passion, love 

 of evil, hatred, etc. Blue was indicative of truth, constancy, and 

 fidelity. Yellow in one sense was symbolical of marriage and faith- 

 fulness; in another sense of inconstancy, jealousy, and deceit. Green 

 was the color of hope, especially that of immortality. Amethystine 

 signified love, truth, passion, suffering, and hopefulness, and among 

 the Rosicrucians was symbolical of the divine male sacrifice. 



Stones of all sorts were engraved with the figure of a cockatrice, 

 which, under the proper planetary influence, were preservatives 

 against the evil eye. The names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were 

 engraved on stones, chiefly amethyst, onyx, and bloodstone, which 

 were worn as preventives of contagious diseases; the larger the stone, 

 the greater its efficacy. Gems were also supposed to indicate the 

 state of health of the donor or wearer. If the stone became dull, 

 opaque, or colorless it was thought to be significant of danger and 

 death. In a similar manner they lost or changed color in contact 

 with poisons. 



Dreaming of gems was usually fraught with good, while seeing or 

 handling them on the eve of a journey, or at certain phases of the 

 moon, was regarded as auspicious. 



Supernatural influences have been attributed to gems which still 

 pass current. For example, an onyx ring, supposed to be the espousal 

 ring of Mary and Joseph, exhibited in the Duomo of Perugia, is 

 thought to be efficacious in the cure of every disorder. Amber is 

 still used as a prophylactic and curative for goiter, croup, and diseases 

 of the throat. The opal is thought by many to bring ill luck to the 



