The Curious Lore of Precious Stones / Being a description of their sentiments and folk lore, superstitions, symbolism, mysticism, use in medicine, protection, prevention, religion, and divination. Crystal gazing, birth-stones, lucky stones and talismans, astral, zodiacal, and planetary

by George Frederick Kunz

Onyx

The onyx, if worn on the neck, was said to cool the ardors of love, and Cardano relates that everywhere in India the stone was worn for this purpose.[135] This belief is closely related to the idea commonly associated with the onyx,—namely, that it provoked discord and separated lovers. The close union and yet the strange contrast between the layers of black and white may have suggested this.

OBSIDIAN MASK, FROM THE FAYOUM, EGYPT.
Twelfth Dynasty. Late De Lesseps Collection. Collection of Mrs. Henry Draper. The obsidian is the typical stone of Mexico.