[Sca-cooks] Precious stones to ward off evils

[Terry Decker]

Twelve.  Twelve months, twelve signs of the Zodiac.  The stones Suey listed 
are a mix of ancient and modern birthstones.  The ones listed by Adele are 
the ancient birthstones, if I'm not mistaken.  This suggest to me that these 
stones are believed to be related to the signs of the Zodiac and that their 
assumed powers may derive from the virtues of the sign to which they are 
related.  Just a thought.

Bear


> Suey wrote:
>
>>Reviewing the precious stones the only ones I have worn in rings to ward
>>off evil in medieval Spain are: agatha, crisopraza, coral, diamond,
>>emerald, garnet, jacinth or hyacinth, mannera? (unidentified precious
>>stone), L. /manus/, hand + arium (ario [relating to the hand]), mustika
>>bezoar pearls, quartz, ruby, serpentine and sard or carnelian. Funny
>>there are 12. What were the 12 stones Apocalipsis 21:20?
>>
>
> 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all
> manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second,
> sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
> 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the
> eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the
> eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
>
> Adele de Maisieres