HIDDENITE. (See [Spodumene].)
HORNSTONE. Hornstone obtains its name from the Anglo-Saxon STAN. It is a fragile variety of flint, and is known in its more impure state as Chert. It had some reputation as an eye stone in certain parts, and is regarded as under the celestial Taurus.
“The island of Sandareeb ... containeth varieties of jacinths and different kinds of minerals.”
The 6th Voyage of Es-Sindabad of the Sea.
The name of this stone is derived from the youth Hyakinthos. It has been written at various times as hiacinth, hiacinthe, hyacint, hiacynth, hyacinthe, hiacint, etc. The true hyacinth, which is not to be confounded with the sapphire, the hyacinthus of the ancients, is a brilliant zircon (q.v.) of a transparent red or ruddy cinnamon colour. It is found with a garnet of similar hue which is also called hyacinth but which shows structural differences and is classified under the name ESSONITE (q.v.). The peculiar granular nature of this hyacinth can be seen, even when cut, under an ordinary lens. It is said in ancient story that Apollo caused the death of the lovely and beloved youth Hyakinthos when throwing his disc, and that from the blood which fell to the ground a lovely flower sprang. The myth symbolizes the fertility of Nature and was celebrated by the festival Hyakinthia, which expresses the grief of Apollo over the precious life he had taken and the subsequent joy when the flower gave promise of the return of the slain one in harmony with Nature’s immortal moods. The gem hyacinth was considered a charm against bowel disorders, as a mental tonic and a strengthener of the mind against all kinds of temptation. It promised bountiful harvests to the farmer and filled the Cornu Copia of the Virgin Goddess. The name JACINTH, usually applied to the yellow variety of the gem, is a contraction of hyacinth, and appears as Iacincte, Iacynkte, Iassink, Jacounce, Jagounce, Jacincte, Jacynct, Jacynth, etc. Like all the Zircon family these stones are electric and attract fluff and exhibit phosphorescence. Thomas de Cantempre describes the jacinth as a stone of yellow colour which protected the wearer from melancholy and poison, drawing to him the love of God and man. Leonardus said that it brought sleep to the tired brain and gave wisdom and protection in times of pestilence. De Boodt also recommends the gem as a cure for insomnia, advising that it be worn enclosed in a small bag of brown material suspended just over the solar plexus. Francis Barrett in the section of his book devoted to Natural Magic says: “The jacinth also possesses virtue from the sun against poisons, pestilences and pestiferous vapours: likewise it renders the wearer pleasant and acceptable: conduces also to gain money: being simply held in the mouth it wonderfully cheers the heart and strengthens the mind.”
So in ancient astrology these stones which are under the celestial Virgo have these powers: Wisdom and Prudence, Worldly Gain, Wealth. It is said that so powerful were these gems of the zircon family that one wearing them could pass unharmed through places infected with fever and pestilence. Mystic authors wrote that the jacinth grew dull when stormy weather was approaching, and bright with the promise of fine weather; similarly it indicated the degrees of health of the wearer (Virgo is a sign of health and sickness). Cardanus says that in tempestuous weather the hyacinth assumes “the ruddy tint of a glowing coal.” As an amulet against plague it was said to change colour when touched by affected persons. Avicenna (Ibn Sina), the famous Arabian philosopher of the 10th century compared the action of the jacinth with that of the magnet. Paracelsus says that it is distinctly under the government of the planet Mercury. In old Polish pharmacies a jacinth was kept set in a mount of silver, ready to be used to avert mortification in cases of accident. Held against the forehead it was reputed to give clearness of thought and calmness of mind. Swedenborg corresponds it to “intelligence from spiritual love and in an opposite sense, intelligence from infernal love which is self-derived intelligence.” To dream of the hyacinth is interpreted as protection in approaching worries; to dream of the jacinth indicates triumph. Jacinths are placed with almandines in the Dar as Salam, the Arabian Garden of Peace, and amongst the Rosicrucian jewels the hyacinth represents the true knowledge of absolute love and the triumph over the crude elements of earthly understanding. These two zircon varieties are under the celestial Virgo.
HYDROPHANE. (See [OPAL].)
HYPERSTHENE. The name is derived from the Greek HYPER, over, and STHENOS, strength. It is also written as Hyperstene. It is a stone of the Pyroxene group, a silicate of magnesium and iron. Its colours are brown-green, grey or green-black, pinchbeck brown. Its hardness is about the hardness of lapis lazuli. The hypersthene is under the celestial Scorpio.
IOLITE. The iolite derives its name from the Greek ION, violet and LITHOS, a stone. Hauy named it the DICHROITE (DIO, twice, CHROA, colour). It was known also as the Cordierite, and more familiarly as the water sapphire. It is a silicate of alumina magnesia and protoxide of iron. It possesses extraordinary dichroism, the smoky blue and yellowish-grey being easily seen with the naked eye. This circumstance induced Hauy to name it DICHROITE. Viewed in two directions it presented different colours. These colours are shown to advantage in stones cut for ornament. In 1758, Sir James Hill wrote a “History of the Iolithos or Violet Stone,” a work now most difficult to obtain. The iolite is a stone of friendship and friendly help. It benefits the eyesight and is an aid to high thoughts. It was also written as yolite, iolithe. It is of about the hardness of quartz. The iolite is under the celestial Aquarius.