PRECIOUS STONES. 261 



as parts of a few delicate instruments, the ancients regarded them in an 

 entirely diflPerent light. To gems were formerly attributed the most ex- 

 traordinary powers; they were believed to be efficacious in preventing dis- 

 ease, in averting all sorts of calamity and misfortune and in frightenino- 

 away all sorts of evil spirits, gnomes and hobgoblins. It was even believed 

 that a man's fate might be decided by a precious stone carried about the 

 person. Although these views seem absurd and preposterous now, they 

 were thought to be very reasonable then and fully accorded with the spirit 

 of the age. Tke transcendentalists of those days who insisted that one 

 great Spirit animated the universe, found no difficulty in believing that 

 jewels were possessed of souls, a belief assisted by the extraordinary play 

 of colors and the wonderful sparkling brilliancy which some displayed, 

 both in sunlight and by artificial illumination. 



In almost all ages jewels of various kinds have played a part in re- 

 ligious rites. Even so refined a religion as that of the Jews made great use 

 of precious stones in the dress of the priests. Aaron's ephod was orna- 

 mented with two onyxes engraved with the names of the twelve tribes, 

 while the breast-plate was set with twelve jewels, which, according to the 

 traditions and to the authority of the most celebrated rabbis and doctors, 

 were the cornelian, topaz, emerald, ruby, sapphire, diamond, hyacinth, 

 agate, amethyst, chrysolite, sardonyx and jasper. The internal evidence of 

 the Book of Job shows considerable knowledge not only of geology, but of 

 metallurgy, and he mentions by name a number of the most valuable gems. 

 The Book of Eevelations in the JSTew Testament abounds with references to 

 the various kinds of precious stones, and almost every kind is mentioned 

 in the gorgeous imagery employed by John to describe the new Jerusalem. 

 Astrological mineralogy, properly speaking, had its origin in Chaldea. 

 There first a list of stones was made out, and each assigned its proper heal- 

 ing or beneficial office. In time one gem was apj^ropriated to each sign of 

 the zodiac. Amulets of twelve stones were made so that the wearer could 

 always have an antidote at hand for danger in every time of the year. The 

 garnet was for January, the amethyst for February, the jasper for March, 

 the sapphire for April', the agate for May, the emerald for June, the onyx 

 for July, the cornelian for August, chrysolite for September, aquamarine 

 for. October, tojDaz for November, and ruby for December. 



Cardan, a celebrated authority on the mystical properties and virtues of 

 jewels, who wrote as late as the sixteenth century, has much to say of the 

 manner of the origin of precious stones. In his opinion precious stones 

 are caused by certain essences or juices which fiow from grosser substances. 

 The diamond, the emerald and the opal he supposed to come from the 

 essence of gold ; the sapphire from silver, and the carbuncle, the amethyst 

 and the garnet from iron. He admitted, without question, that precious 

 stones not only lived, but that they suffered illness, old age and death. 



"He then speaks of the different virtues possessed by precious stones. 

 The hyacinth preserves from thunder storms and pestilence, and induces 



