* * * * *
EMBLEMATIC MEANINGS OF PRECIOUS STONES (Vol. viii., p. 539).--PLANETS OF
THE MONTHS SYMBOLISED BY PRECIOUS STONES (Vol. iv., pp. 23. 164.).
The Poles have a fanciful belief that each month of the year is under the
influence of a precious stone, which influence has a corresponding effect
on the destiny of a person born during the respective month. Consequently,
it is customary, among friends and lovers, on birth-days, to make
reciprocal presents of trinkets ornamented with the natal stones. The
stones and their influences, corresponding with each month, are supposed to
be as follows:
January Garnet. Constancy and fidelity.
February Amethyst. Sincerity.
March Bloodstone. Courage. Presence of mind.
April Diamond. Innocence.
May Emerald. Success in love.
June Agate. Health and long life.
July Cornelian. Contented mind.
August Sardonyx. Conjugal felicity.
September Chrysolite. Antidote against madness.
October Opal. Hope.
November Topaz. Fidelity.
December Turquoise. Prosperity.
The Rabbinical writers describe a system of onomancy, according to the
third branch of the Cabala, termed _Notaricon_, in conjunction with
lithomancy. Twelve anagrams of the name of God were engraved on twelve
precious stones, by which, with reference to their change of hue or
brilliancy, the cabalist was enabled to foretel future events. Those twelve
stones, thus engraved, were also supposed to have a mystical power over,
and a prophetical relation to, the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and twelve
angels or good spirits, in the following order:
_Anagrams._ _Stones._ _Signs._ _Angels._
[Hebrew: YHWH] Ruby. Aries. Mulchediel.
[Hebrew: YHHW] Topaz. Taurus. Asmodel.
[Hebrew: YWHH] Carbuncle. Gemini. Ambriel.
[Hebrew: HWHY] Emerald. Cancer. Muriel.
[Hebrew: HWYH] Sapphire. Leo. Verchel.
[Hebrew: HHYW] Diamond. Virgo. Humatiel.
[Hebrew: WHHY] Jacinth. Libra. Zuriel.
[Hebrew: WYHH] Agate. Scorpio. Barbiel.
[Hebrew: HWHY] Amethyst. Sagittarius. Adnachiel.
[Hebrew: HYHW] Beryl. Capricornus. Humiel.
[Hebrew: WHYH] Onyx. Aquarius. Gabriel.
[Hebrew: HYWH] Jasper. Pisces. Barchiel.
These stones had also reference to the twelve tribes of Israel, twelve
parts of the human body, twelve plants, twelve birds, twelve minerals,
twelve hierarchies of devils, &c. &c. _usque ad nauseum_.
It is evident that all this absurd nonsense was founded on the twelve
precious stones in the breast-plate of the High Priest (Exodus xxviii. 15.:
see also Numbers xxvii. 28., and 1 Samuel xxviii. 6.). I may add that in
the glorious description of the Holy City, in Revelation xxi., the mystical
number twelve is again connected with precious stones.
In the _Sympathia Septem Metallorum ac Septem Selectorum Lapidum ad
Planetus_, by the noted Peter Arlensis de Scudalupis, the following are the
stones and metals which are recorded as sympathising with what the ancients
termed the seven planets (I translate the original words):
Saturn Turquoise. Lead.
Jupiter Cornelian. Tin.
Mars Emerald. Iron.
Sun Diamond. Gold.
Venus Amethyst. Copper.
Mercury Loadstone. Quicksilver.
Moon Chrystal. Silver.
N. D. inquires in what works he will find the emblematical meanings of
precious stones described. For a great deal of curious, but obsolete and
useless, reading on the mystical and occult properties of precious stones,
I may refer him to the following works:--_Les Amours et noveaux Eschanges
des Pierres Précieuses_, Paris, 1576; _Curiositez inouyes sur la Sculpture
Talismanique_, Paris, 1637; _Occulta Naturæ Miracula_, Antwerp, 1567;
_Speculum Lapidi_, Aug. Vind., 1523; _Les Oeuvres de Jean Belot_, Rouen,
1569.