Quantcast
  We apologize for any slow response. This will be fixed before October 31st Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-gems-decorative-stones/page_158 - 2
 

Jaspis, Jasper, Quartz-gems

Jaspis, Jasper, Quartz-gems Page of 384 Jaspis, Jasper, Quartz-gems Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
JASPIS.
149
mingled with the other components of some Egyptian breccias; perhaps the aetual source whence the old en­gravers extracted the gem. The material chiefly used for the Phœnician scarabei lately brought to light in Sardinia, though greatly resembling this in appearance, is of a totally different nature, yielding readily to the steel point, and being, perhaps, only a fine Serpentine. This Sardinian species has all the character of the Smaragdite, better known, by its Italian namo of " Verde di Corsica." Either of these would be aptly described by the comparison of their colour to verdigris, the way in which Theophrastus defines his "Prasitis."
4.  A light-green, mottled with yellow after the manner of the Moss-agate, only quite opaque, and extremely hard, also serves as the frequent vehicle for Mithraic and Basili-dan talismans. This would seem to be the Tree-agate of Orpheus (230), that insured plentiful crops if tied round the ploughman's arm, or to the horns of the oxen breaking up the field.
5.  A bright yellow opaque stone, exclusively appro­priated for talismanic engravings, astrological and Gnostic. This may represent Pliny's " Cerachates," of which Solinus observes, " that such as are of the colour of bees'-wax, being vulgarly plentiful, are despised." It is, however, also possible that he is here alluding to the common European Calcedony.
No stone held so high a rank in the alexipharmaca of both ancient and mediaeval physicians as did the Jasper. Pliny and Epiphanius have been cited above in testimony to the virtues of the Grammatias. Even the sober and practical Galen declares (' Simp. Med.' ix.) " The Green Jasper benefits the chest and mouth of the stomach, if tied over them. Some people set it in a ring and engrave upon it a serpent with radiated head, just as King Nechepsos pre-
Jaspis, Jasper, Quartz-gems Page of 384 Jaspis, Jasper, Quartz-gems
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page