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Heliotropium, Heliotrope

Heliotropium, Heliotrope Page of 453 Hyacinthus, Sapphire, Corundum Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
192                                   HELIOTROPIUM.
Pliny quotes, as a most glaring example of the impudence of the Magi, their assertion that the wearer of this gem coupled with the plant of the same name, by the aid of certain spells known to them, was enabled to beeome invisible. The He-phaestitis found at Corinth, though fiery red in colour, might similarly be used as a mirror : the test of its genuineness was— if boiling water became cold immediately upon its being thrown in, or if, when placed in the sun, it immediately kindled dry fuel. It is impossible to divine what stone is here intended ; Orpheus, however (264), ascribes exactly the same properties to his Lychnis. Hephaestitis, " Vulcan's-gem," may therefore be only an epithet for the same stone, or for the Carbuncle, which the designation of " rutila " will perfectly suit.
Marbodus adds to the other powers of the Heliotrope that of bringing together clouds and of evoking tempests (see p. 52).
This material was very little employed in ancient art, in spite of its beauty ; the irregular dissemination of its colours altogether destroying the effect of any intaglio cut upon it. For (except in the case of the banded Agate) it was a necessity with the ancient engraver that the field of his design should be of one uniform colour. A Mercury, and a small figure of Sol, in a later Roman style, are the only examples of really antique work on Heliotrope within my knowledge; and here probably the material was chosen from superstitious motives as bearing a name (in the latter case) analogous to the subject upon it.
Heliotropium, Heliotrope Page of 453 Hyacinthus, Sapphire, Corundum
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