SUPEESTITIOFS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 25 



which they were also believed to be thrown to the earth ; 

 ceraunii lapides, from Kepuwos, the lightning by which they 

 were presumed to be generated and formed in the air; 

 chelonites, from the resemblance in their sutures to the shells 

 of the tortoise ; and ova anguinum, from having been con- 

 sidered by some as the eggs of serpents. 



Various virtues and supernatural powers were attributed 

 to different minerals and fossil remains. They were worn as 

 amulets and relics, and an especial value was assigned to the 

 mineral harmotome, or cross-stone, on account of the sacred 

 emblem of which it was supposed to be the type. Pliny 

 relates that the Ethiopians attached great sanctity and value 

 to ammonites, whether converted to stone or iron pyrites. 

 They are still venerated in like manner by the Hindoos. The 

 nummulite was the subject of many a German legend under 

 the name of the ^auern-pfennige, or peasant's penny, and 

 teufelsgeld, or devil's money, under which appellation it was 

 equally known. In certain parts of Spain, as recently as 

 1835, many individuals wore the shells of terelratulcB in 

 their pockets, as an infallible specific against cholera ! The 

 petrified teeth of sharks were conceived to act as a charm 

 against various maladies. Under the name of glossopetra 

 they were believed to be the tongues of serpents or birds. 

 At Malta they were supposed to be those of vipers petrified 

 by St. Paul; while at Krain they bore the name of teu- 

 felsklauen, from an idea there entertained that the evil 

 spirit had torn his claws in the clefts and crevices of the 

 mountain. The list of delusions may perhaps be closed with 

 the fact that the occurrence of the remains of the elephant and 

 mastodon in superficial deposits, and the casual resemblance 

 of the teeth of the latter animal to those of the human 

 species, have probably given rise to the fables which prevail 

 in the mythology of all nations, of the existence of giants, 

 who, having warred against the gods, were overcome by 

 their celestial opponents, and crushed beneath the rocks. 

 The most recent imposture is the skeleton which, in the 

 reign of Louis XIII., was pretended to be that of Teuto- 

 bochus, king of the Cimbri, who fought against Marius. 

 The following are the circumstances which gave rise to the 

 tale : 



On the llth of January, 1613, in a sandpit near the 



