“With lustre fair is the Calcedon graced.”
Marbodus.
The chalcedony obtains its name from Chalkedon in Asia Minor, and appears written as calcedony, calsydoyne, calcidoine, chalcedun, calcideny, chalcidonye, calcedon, calchedonie.
This stone includes a number of varieties such as carnelian, sard, agate, catseye, prase, plasma, heliotrope, chrysoprase, moss agate, onyx, sardonyx, hornstone or Chert, and flint. Chalcedony is classed under the great Silica family. It is translucent, waxy, white, pale grey, light brown or bluish.
The Blue Chalcedony is identified with the ancient Sapphirine—a stone confused with our sapphire. Mr. King says that the “finest Persian cylinder known, engraved with the usual type of the King fighting with the lion, was formed out of this variety: the signet doubtless that once graced the wrist of some Darius or Artaxerxes of the latter days of the Persian monarchy.”
It is said that Albertus Magnus first identified the chalcedony of today in the 13th century, although according to many authorities this was not done until the 15th century at the very earliest. The ancient chalcedony is classed amongst such stones as the Leucachates and Cerachates. Pliny describes the ancient chalcedony as of “green mixed with blue as the feathers of the peacock’s tail or of the pigeon’s neck,” and Holme quoting from Pliny in the Armoury, 1688, says: “The chalcedon or calchedoine, being well chafed and warmed, will draw a straw or a rush to it.” The calcedon described by Pliny was not found in his time, but our chalcedony was greatly used in fine art work in all ages. A chalcedony showing tiny red and brown spots has been termed the stone of St. Stephen, in allusion to the martyrdom of that Saint as described in Chapter 7 of the Acts.
The chalcedony is a symbol of enthusiasm, and is the emblem of Victory Divine amongst the jewels of the Rosicrucians. It has also been termed the Mother Stone, and under the name of Leucachate was sacred to Diana. It protected the voyager on the ocean tracts from tempests and terrors, drove away evil spirits, banished sadness and melancholy, secured public favour and protected the wearer in times of political revolutions.
The chalcedony is under the zodiacal Cancer.
CHALCEDONYX. The chalcedonyx is really a chalcedony adorned with lines of white and grey. It is included in the zodiacal Cancer.