|
130 NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
|
||
|
|
||
|
GAGATES: ÃáãÜôçò: Jet.
This stone
(or rather fossil wood) derived its ancient name from the river Gages
in Lycia, where it was first discovered; it was also said to be picked
up on the coast of Leucolla over an extent of twelve furlongs, where it
had been cast up by the waves. The Romans chiefly valued it for its supposed medicinal qualities, some of them very wonderful,
for the fumes of it when burning would discover any one subject to
epilepsy by immediately inducing a fit : and the water in which it was
steeped proved by its undisguisablc effect an infallible ordeal for
female chastity. Its fumes also drove away all reptiles, and were good
against the strangulation of the womb. Its flames, though, quickened by
water, were quenched by the application of oil. Anything painted with
it upon pottery* could not be obliterated. Mixed with wine it was good
for the toothache ; and with beeswax, a sovereign ointment for tumours.
But strangest virtue of all was that for which the Magi employed it in
the mode of divination called Axinomantia, for it remained
incombustible in the fire, if the desire of the consulting party was
destined to be accomplished. The same virtues
*
A remark proving that indurated Bitumen was then confounded with the
true Jet, for the former was the base of the black pigment so
extensively employed by the Greek and Etruscan potters in the
decoration of their painted vases. In our times likewise, the
so-called Eussian Jet is the same mineral, and is from its nature much
used for making black sealing-wax.
|
||
|
|
||