By permission of W. Griggs & Sons, Ltd., London.
MAHARAJA RUNJIT SINGH, RULER OF THE PUNJAB, 1791 TO 1839.
He holds a “rosary” of emeralds, stones prized in the Orient as antidotes to poison. From a portrait by Jiwan Ram, taken at Rupar in 1831. From the Journal of Indian Art and Industry.
The amulets of the Jews differed in many respects from those used by Christians. The Mosaic prohibition of representations of human or animal forms imposed great restrictions upon the employment of engraved gems, and the Jew was only permitted to wear or carry those bearing merely characters of mystic or symbolic significance. In talmudic times amulets were sometimes hidden in a hollow staff, and they were believed to have more power when concealed from view in this way. They were like concealed weapons, and it was said that, as a father might give such an amulet to a son, so God had given the Law to Israel for its protection.[29]
In the Old French didactic poem, the Roman de la Rose, composed in the twelfth century, appear traces of the belief in the magic properties of precious stones. Chaucer translated this poem into English in the fourteenth century and we quote the following lines from his version. They describe the costume of the symbolical figure, Riches.
Richesse a girdle hadde upon
The bokel of it was of a stoon
Of Vertue greet, and mochel of might.
That stoon was greetly for to love,
And til a riche mannes bihove
Worth al the gold in Rome and Fryse.