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260
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NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
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Fire ; and thus giving to the wearer immunity from hurt in the very midst of the flames."
The
fable recorded by Philostratus bears a strong resemblance to the mode
of discovering the Topazius mentioned by Diodorus Siculus ; and
possibly refers to the same stone. The Indian name, modified by the
Greek into Pantarbes (as formed of ðÜí and rapßetv, in
the sense of All-feared), seems to have suggested the notion of the
deference paid to it by all other gems to which it stood in the
relation of a queen-bee to her swarm.
It
would seem that the Ruby is the stone intended by all these legends
savouring so strongly of a Hindoo origin. The high estimation in which
it was held, its fiery colour, and believed luminousness in the dark,
are all points supporting this explanation. This also supplies the
reason why this particular gem should have been selected for an amulet
against the element of Fire ; for the distinctive epithet of the true
Carbunculus was Acaustus, " the incombustible : " and the
substitution of an active for a passive virtue was facile with the
Oriental worshippers of gems. Hafiz sings how that Jamshid's Euby Cup
blushed rosy like the dawn through the porphyry walls within which it
was immured.
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