The Magic and Science of Jewels and Stones

by Isidore Kozminsky

TURQUOISE

“The fair Queen of France

Sent him a turquoise ring and glove,

And charged him as her knight and love

For her to break a lance.”

Sir Walter Scott.

“Turquoise” has been written in a remarkable number of ways, amongst them being turky, torkey, turquay, turkey stone, turkie, turkeis, turkese, turkise, turkes, turkas, turkis (as used by Tennyson), turkoise, turkez, turqueis, turques, turchis, turquesse, torchas, turcasse, turquez, toorkes, turkesse. The Venetians call it turchesa, the French turquoise, the Germans turkis. Andrea Bacci (“De Gemmis et Lapidibus pretiosis,” etc., 1605) says that this stone is called Turcicus, “Either on account of its admirable loveliness or for the reason that it is obtained from the Turks.” The name as we have it does not seem to go further back than the 13th century when Saxo, agreeing with Albertus Magnus, writes of it and praises its virtues as a preventive of accidents to the eye. The old Persians called it PIRUZEH, the Triumphant, and the Arabians, whose special luck stone the turquoise is, engrave on specimens the name “Allah” with a verse from the Koran, or with some magical sign inserted in pure gold. It is known to the Mexicans as CHALCHIHUITL. This stone is identified with the Callais of Pliny, who relates symbolically that it was shot down by means of slings from unapproachable rock lands. The symbol has relation to the power of this stone of the Heavenly Archer over seemingly terrifying obstacles when firmly directed by the compelling will.

The turquoise is favoured by Eastern occult students who employ it largely in the composition of amulets and charms. It was said to have sprung up like an eye from its matrix, and is identified with the Antares in the Archer of the Heavens. These stars were indicated as affecting the eyes in the same degree as the Pleiades and the Asselli of Taurus and Leo. In modern Egypt a turquoise is applied to the eye as a remedy for cataract and other ophthalmic troubles, specimens thus employed being usually engraved with the sacred name of Allah. The turquoise is especially the stone of horses, mules and camels, and from most ancient times specimens have adorned their trappings. Leonardus said that so long as a horseman carried a piece of turquoise with him whilst riding he would never have an accident, nor would his horse be fatigued, for it was believed that the stone would draw the pain of the accident to itself. Boetius de Boodt says that when riding to his house along an uncertain road on a dark night he fell with his horse down a declivity but neither he nor his animal suffered hurt. His turquoise, however, was shattered. The stone was carried by jockeys, huntsmen and horsemen generally as a symbol of the special protection of Jupiter. In the Middle Ages the turquoise was much worn by young girls who regarded it as a religious jewel for the protection of their virtue and for the uplifting of their thoughts. In the most ancient science the sign Sagittarius—the house or mansion of the planet Jupiter—is the sign of sport, horses, dreams, high philosophy, religion (not in the sense of creed), the true lamp of life, long voyages, publications (not newspapers), etc. Thus the turquoise—as the stone of Sagittarius—was a stone of dreams, the horse, philosophy, religion, etc., and its grand symbolic purpose was to help the spiritual person to resist the weakness, evils and temptations so intermixed with material life. The turquoise was said to be a charm against the evil eye and evil thoughts. The Arabs say that the stone is sensitive to weather changes and that its colour is affected by the state of the atmosphere. They knew Jupiter as the “Cloud Gatherer,” “The Thunderer,” “The God of the Murky Cloud,” etc., and they connected the turquoise with his powerful works. The planet Jupiter strong at birth is held to indicate riches and worldly advantage. The old Arabian writers note a form of magic for inducing wealth and monetary advantages, performed in the hour of Jupiter. During this ceremony a turquoise was held in the right hand and the desires spoken into the stone at which a steady gaze was directed.

Carelessness has led to error amongst writers. A 16th century author confuses the topaz with the turquoise, describing the latter as a “gem of yellow colour” and recommending it as a charm against the bites of reptiles and stings of insects—qualities ascribed by the old masters to the topaz, gem of the sign of the Scorpion. Another writer repeats the error, saying that “this yellow stone reduced to a powder is helpful in case of stings from scorpions and fearful and venomous reptiles.” The turquoise was held in esteem for diseases of the hip—a part of the body astrologically under the sway of Sagittarius. In this connection the stone was reduced to a paste and bound flat to the part affected, whole specimens being bound above and below the seat of the trouble. The turquoise contains a high percentage of Phosphoric Acid, which is employed in modern homœopathy for affections of the lungs, astrologically under the sign Gemini and therefore opposite to the sign Sagittarius. The ancients advised the turquoise as a lung medicine, not to be taken internally. The sign Sagittarius is also the sign of prophecy, and the turquoise set in the foreheads of the statues of Buddha and other images symbolizes the knowledge of things to come. The golden bow and the turquoise arrow of the Tibetan legend has especial reference to the Sun in the sign Sagittarius. Dr. Kunz, quoting from Dr. Berthold Laufer of the Field Museum, Chicago, refers to this legend as follows:

“A powerful saint touching the bow and arrow of a blacksmith transforms the bow into gold and the arrow into turquoise.” The bow represents the solar rays and the arrow the Heavens, hence it is little wonder that the turquoise was termed the “gem of the Gods.” The turquoise was also recommended for diseases of the throat and heart—as phosphoric acid is today in Homœopathy. In harmony with an ancient astro-philosophy known as “Planetary Interchanges,” the turquoise was considered an ideal lovers’ gift—unless the stone was otherwise than fortunate in the horoscope of the recipient—and a gift of friendship.