ZODIACAL GEMS

Aquarius.

January 21 to February 21.

The Garnet.

If you would cherish friendship true,

In Aquarius well you’ll do

To wear this gem of warmest hue—

The garnet.

Pisces.

February 21 to March 21.

The Amethyst.

From passion and from care kept free

Shall Pisces’ children ever be

Who wear so all the world may see

The amethyst.

Aries.

March 21 to April 20.

The Bloodstone.

Who on this world of ours his eyes

In Aries opens shall be wise

If always on his hand there lies

A bloodstone.

Taurus.

April 20 to May 21.

The Sapphire.

If on your hand this stone you bind,

You in Taurus born will find

’Twill cure diseases of the mind,

The sapphire.

Gemini.

May 21 to June 21.

The Agate.

Gemini’s children health and wealth command,

And all the ills of age withstand,

Who wear their rings on either hand

Of agate.

Cancer.

June 21 to July 22.

The Emerald.

If born in Cancer’s sign, they say,

Your life will joyful be alway,

If you take with you on your way

An emerald.

Leo.

July 22 to August 22.

The Onyx.

When youth to manhood shall have grown,

Under Leo lorn and lone

’Twill have lived but for this stone,

The onyx.

Virgo.

August 22 to September 22.

The Carnelian.

Success will bless whate’er you do,

Through Virgo’s sign, if only you

Place on your hand her own gem true,

Carnelian.

Libra.

September 22 to October 23.

The Chrysolite.

Through Libra’s sign it is quite well

To free yourself from evil spell,

For in her gem surcease doth dwell,

The chrysolite.

Scorpio.

October 23 to November 21.

The Beryl.

Through Scorpio this gem so fair

Is that which every one should wear,

Or tears of sad repentance bear,—

The beryl.

Sagittarius.

November 21 to December 21.

The Topaz.

Who first comes to this world below

Under Sagittarius should know

That their true gem should ever show

A topaz.

Capricorn.

December 21 to January 21.

The Ruby.

Those who live in Capricorn

No trouble shall their brows adorn

If they this glowing gem have worn,

The ruby.

An old Spanish list of the gems of the zodiacal signs differs from those given above, and probably represents Arab tradition:[452]

Of planetary stones[453] there is assigned to the sun the jacinth and the chrysolite, when this latter name was applied to the yellow Brazilian chrysoberyl, while the moon controls the beryl, the rock-crystal and also the pearl. To the share of Venus fall the sapphire and carbuncle as well as coral and pearl; usually the emerald is the stone of Venus. Mars lays claim to the diamond, jacinth, and ruby, the last-named stone according with the ruddy hue of our neighbor planet. Under the control of Jupiter are placed the emerald, sapphire, amethyst, and turquoise, so that this planet has the richest assortment of gems; it will be remarked that the celestial sapphire unites the influence of Venus and Jupiter, the two especially propitious planets. Lastly, far-away Saturn must be content with all dark, black, and brittle stones; there was, indeed, little inducement to wear a Saturnian stone, for the influence of this cold and distant planet was always regarded as baleful.

1. A necklace of banded and variegated agates, onyx, carnelians and sards. First Century A.D.

2. Beads of carnelian artificially marked for “good luck.” The marking is produced by an application of potash and soda. Ancient Persian.

The planetary controls of precious stones as given in the Lapidario of Alfonso X, according to “Chaldaic” tradition, show that the same stone was influenced in many or most cases by more than one of the “seven planets” (including the Sun and Moon). Thus the diamond, belonging to the first degree of the sign Taurus, was dominated by both Saturn and the Sun; the emerald was controlled by Jupiter, and also by Mercury and by Venus. The red jargoon was influenced by Mars, the yellow variety by Jupiter and the white jargoon by Venus. The carnelian received virtue from the Sun and from Venus. The ruby, although more especially a sunstone, came as well under the influence of the Planet of Love. Coral belonged both to Venus and to the moon, while lapis-lazuli and chalcedony only owed allegiance to Venus; this planet also lent virtue to the beryl.[454]

Among the Mohammedans, six of the seven heavens were supposed to be made of precious substances: the first was of emerald; the second, of white silver; the third, of large white pearls; the fourth, of ruby; the fifth, of red gold; and the sixth, of jacinth. The seventh and highest heaven, however, was of shining light.[455] Here we have the three precious colored stones, emerald, ruby, and sapphire (jacinth), to which is added the pearl.

The scarcity of the diamond in early times, and its comparative lack of brilliancy before the invention of rose and brilliant cutting, account for the absence of this king of gems.

Rabelais,[456] describing the temple of the oracle of the “Dive Bouteille,” says that of its seven columns the first was of sapphire; the second, of jacinth; the third, of “dyamant”; the fourth, of the “male” balas-ruby; the fifth, of emerald, “more brilliant and glistening than were those which were set in place of eyes in the marble lion stretched before the tomb of King Hermias”; the sixth column was of agate, and the seventh of transparent selenite, “with a splendor like that of Hymettian honey, and within appeared the moon in form and motion such as she is in the heavens, full and new, waxing and waning.” We are then told that these stones were attributed to the seven planets by the Chaldæans, as follows:

SapphireSaturn
JacinthJupiter
DiamondSun
RubyMars
EmeraldVenus
AgateMercury
SeleniteMoon

Some of these attributions differ from those usually made and may represent another tradition.

PLANETARY INFLUENCES OF STONES[457]

JasperVenus and Mercury.
SapphireJupiter and Mercury.
EmeraldVenus and Mercury.
ChalcedonyJupiter, Mercury, and Saturn.
SardonyxSaturn and Mars.
ChrysoliteMercury and Venus.
BerylVenus and Mars.
TopazSaturn and Mars.
ChrysopraseMercury and Venus.
JacinthMars and Jupiter.
AmethystMars and Jupiter.
PearlVenus and Mercury.
CarbuncleMars and Venus.
DiamondJupiter.
AgateVenus and Mars.
AlectoriaSun.
TurquoiseVenus and Mercury.
ChelidonJupiter.
ÆtitesSun.
DionesiaSaturn.
HematiteMercury.
Lapis-lazuliVenus.
ArmenaMercury and Venus.
GarnetSun.
AmberSun.
JetSaturn.
LyncuriusSun.
CrystalMoon and Mars.
BezoarJupiter.
ArmeniaJupiter.
SeleniteMoon.
MagnetMars.
Judaica,}
Hegolite or }Mercury.
Cogolite }
IrisJupiter.
HalcyonSaturn and Mars.
AsbestusSaturn.
SarcophagusMoon.
Arabian, whiteMoon.
Arabian, greenJupiter.
HyenaSun.
AndrodamasMoon.
Pyrites:
Copper-coloredSun, Venus.
Gold-coloredSun.
Silver-coloredMoon.
Tin-coloredMoon, Saturn.
Ash-coloredJupiter.
CalatiaMoon.
StalactiteVenus.
ThenarcusSun.
CarnelianJupiter, Mars, Venus.
OpalSun, Mercury.

Fixed stars associated with precious stones:[458]

Images and virtues of the constellations as engraved on gems:[459]

Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Draco. Both bears are represented in the folds of a serpent, the Great Bear in the upper and the Lesser Bear in the lower folds. In almost all the signs. Nature: Ursa Major, Mars and Venus. Ursa Minor: Saturn. Draco: Saturn and Mars. Renders the wearer wise, cautious, versatile, and powerful.

The boundary lines of the various signs are carried up to the pole, and any constellation that is within these lines is considered to belong to the respective sign; thus, every constellation belongs to one or more signs.

Corona Borealis. A royal crown, with many stars; sometimes the crowned head of a king. Sign: Sagittarius. Nature: Venus and Mercury. Engraved on the stone of one who is fitted for honors and knowledge, it gives him great favor with kings.

Hercules. A man with knees bent, holding a club in his hand and killing a lion; sometimes a man with a lion’s skin in his hand or on his shoulder and holding a club. Sign: Scorpio. Nature: Venus and Mercury. Engraved on a stone that brings victory, like the agate, it renders the wearer victorious in all conflicts in the field.

Cygnus. A swan with outstretched wings and curved neck. In the North. Nature: Venus and Mercury. Renders the wearer popular, increases knowledge, and augments wealth. Cures gout, paralysis, and fever.

Cepheus. A man girt with a sword and holding his hands and arms extended. Sign: Aries. Nature: Saturn and Jupiter. Causes pleasant visions if placed beneath the head of a sleeping person.

Cassiopeia. A woman seated in a chair and with hands extended in the form of a cross; sometimes with a triangle on her head. Sign: Taurus. Nature: Saturn and Venus. Restores the sickly, worn body to health, gives quiet and calm after labor and procures pleasant and tranquil sleep.

Andromeda. A young girl with dishevelled hair, and hands hanging down. Sign: Taurus. Nature: Venus. Reconciles husband and wife, strengthens love, and protects the human body from many diseases.

Perseus. A man holding a sword in his right hand and the Gorgon’s head in his left. Sign: Taurus. Nature: Saturn and Venus. Guards the wearer from misfortune and protects, not only the wearer but the place where it may be, from lightning and tempest. Dissolves enchantments.

Serpens. A man in the folds of a serpent and holding its head in his right hand and its tail in his left. Sign: Taurus. Nature: Saturn and Venus. Antidote to poisons and to the bites of venomous creatures.

Aquila. A flying eagle with an arrow beneath his feet. Sign: Cancer. Nature: Jupiter and Mercury; the arrow, however, is of Mars and Venus. Preserves former honors, adds new ones, and helps to victory.

Pisces or Delphinus. Figured in relief(?) Sign: Aquarius. Nature: Saturn and Mars. If this engraved gem be attached to nets it causes them to be filled with fish, and it renders the wearer fortunate in fishing.

Pegasus. Some represent the half of a winged horse; others the whole figure and without a bridle. Sign: Aries. Nature: Mars and Jupiter. Gives victory in the field, and makes the wearer swift, cautious, and bold.

Cetus. Figure of a large fish with curved tail and capacious gullet. Sign: Taurus. Nature: Saturn. Renders the wearer fortunate on the sea and makes him prudent and agreeable. It also restores lost articles.

Orion. With or without armor, man holding a sword or a scythe in his hand. Sign: Gemini. Nature: Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. Gives the wearer victory over his enemies.

Navis. A ship with prow curved back and spread sails; sometimes with and sometimes without oars. Sign: Leo. Nature: Saturn and Jupiter. Renders the wearer fortunate in his undertakings; he runs no risk on sea or water, neither can he be injured by water.

Canis Major. Figure of a dog for coursing hares, with a curved tail. Sign: Cancer. Nature: Venus. Cures lunacy, insanity, and demoniacal possession.

Lepus. Figure of a hare with ears pricked up and the feet represented as though in swift motion. Sign: Gemini. Nature: Saturn and Mercury. Cures frenzy and protects from the wiles of demons. The wearer cannot be hurt by a malignant spirit.

Centaur. Half-figure of a bull, bearing a man on whose left shoulder rests a lance, from which depends a hare. In his right hand the man holds a small, supine animal with a vessel attached to it. Sign: Libra. Nature: Jupiter and Mars. Gives constancy and perpetual health.

Canis Minor. Figure of a dog, sitting. Sign: Cancer. Nature: Jupiter. Guards from dropsy, pestilence, and the bites of dogs.

Sacrarius Turubulus (Ara). An altar with burning incense. Sign: Sagittarius. Nature: Venus and Mercury. Gives the wearer power to recognize spirits, to converse with them, and to command them; also confers chastity.

Hydra. A serpent, having an urn at its head and a raven at its tail. Sign: Cancer. Nature: Saturn and Venus. Gives riches and all good gifts to the wearer and makes him cautious and prudent.

Corona Australis. An imperial crown. Sign: Libra. Nature: Saturn and Mars. Augments wealth and makes the wearer gay and happy.

Auriga. A man in a chariot, bearing a goat on his left shoulder. Sign: Gemini. Nature: Mercury. Makes the wearer successful in hunting.

Vexillum. A flag flying from the extremity of a lance. Sign: Scorpion. Gives skill in war and confers victory in the field.