8 THE MAGIC OP JEWELS AND CHARMS
of these passages there is express indication that the shamir was
a pointed object used for engraving, and the word is translated
"diamond" in our Bible; in the two other cases it is rendered "adamant"
and "adamantine stone," respectively, thus leaving the determination
of the substance an open question. However, as it is almost certain
that the Hebrews were not familiar with the diamond, shamir most
probably signifies one of the varieties of corundum, the next hardest
mineral to the diamond, and extensively used in classic times for
engraving on softer stones.
In the luxuriant growth of legend that sprang up in Rabbinical times, the shamir is
not forgotten. It is said to have been the seventh of the ten marvels
created at the end of the sixth day of creation. In size, it is
described as being not larger than a barley-corn, but it had the power
to split up the hardest substances, if brought in contact with them, or
even in their neighborhood. Some of the legends ascribe to it even more
wonderful magic powers, so that, like Aladdin's lamp, great buildings
could be constructed by its help, Solomon having used it in the
erection of the temple and other buildings. The etymology of the word
indicates a pointed object, similar to our diamond-point, but in legend
it is almost invariably described as a small worm, probably because of
a fancied connection between this word and another designating a
species of worm. Many have associated the Hebrew shamir with the Greek sμίρes, or emery.
The Hebrew shamir and the Greek αδάμας were
both used metaphorically of hardness of heart and implacability. The
Hebrew prophet Zechariah (vii, 12) says of the disobedient Jews that
"they made their hearts as an adamant stone" (shamir), and the Greek poet Theocritus (fl. 228 b.c.) calls Pluto, the god of the infernal regions, "the adamas in Hades." This clearly shows that invincible hardness was the common characteristic of the material designated by
