finding
analogies between these stones and the apostles. At the outset, the
symbolism of the stones was looked upon from a purely religious
standpoint. Few of the early fathers—we may except Epiphanius—thought
or cared much for the stones themselves, or knew much of them ; but, in
time, their natural beauty became more and more highly developed as the
lapidarian art demanded better cut and choicer material, their supposed
virtues came to the fore, and the symbolism was strengthened and
emphasized by a reference to their innate qualities and also to their
peculiar powers. The fact that this part of the tradition was rather of
pagan than of Christian origin probably contributed to render it less
attractive to the early Christians, so that it was not until
Christianity had become practically universal in the Greek and Roman
world and the opposition to pagan traditions, as such, was weakened
and, indeed, largely forgotten, that the virtues of the stones were
made prominent, and certain parts of these superstitions were
retained, as were some of the pagan ceremonies in the Christian
religion. One of the earliest writers to associate directly with the
apostles the symbolism of the gems given as foundation stones of the
New Jerusalem by St. John in Revelation xxi, 19, is Andreas, bishop of
Caesarea. This author was at one time assigned by critics to the fifth
century a.D.,4 but
more recent investigation has shown that he probably belonged to the
last half of the tenth century. His exposition reads as follows :5
The
jasper, which like the emerald is of a greenish hue, probably signifies
St. Peter, chief of the apostles, as one who so bore Christ's death in
his inmost nature that his love for Him was always vigorous
* Lücke, " Versuch einer Einleitung in die Offenbarung Johannes," Bonn, 1852, p. 964.
'Patrologia Graecas, ed. Migne, vol. evi, Parisiis, 1863, eols. 433-438.
