CHAP. 59.—GALAXIAS. GALACTITIS, LEUCOGÆA, LEUCOGRAPHITIS, OR SYNNEPHITIS. GALLAICA. GASSINADE. GLOSSOPETRA. GORGONIA. GONIÆA.
Galaxias,[3314] by some called “galactitis,”[3315] is a stone that closely resembles those next mentioned, but is interspersed with veins of blood-red or white. Galactitis[3316] is of the uniform colour of milk; other names given to it are, leucogæa,[3317] leucographitis,[3318] and synnephitis,[3319] and, when pounded in water, both in taste and colour it marvellously resembles milk. This stone promotes the secretion of the milk in nursing women, it is said; in addition to which, attached to the neck of infants, it produces saliva, and it dissolves when put into the mouth. They say, too, that it deprives persons of their memory: it is in the rivers Nilus and Acheloüs that it is produced. Some persons give the name of “galactitis” to a smaragdus surrounded with veins of white. Gallaica is a stone like argyrodamas,[3320] but of a somewhat more soiled appearance; these stones are found in twos and threes clustered together. The people of Media send us gassinade,[3321] a stone like orobus in colour, and sprinkled with flowers, as it were: it is found at Arbela. This stone, too, conceives,[3322] it is said; a fact which it admits when shaken; the conception lasting for a period of three months. Glossopetra,[3323] which resembles the human tongue, is not engendered, it is said, in the earth, but falls from the heavens during the moon’s eclipse; it is considered highly necessary for the purposes of selenomancy.[3324] To render all this however, still more incredible, we have the evident untruthfulness of one assertion made about it, that it has the property of silencing the winds. Gorgonia[3325] is nothing but a coral, which has been thus named from the circumstance that, though soft in the sea, it afterwards assumes the hardness of stone: it has the property of counteracting fascinations,[3326] it is said. Goniæa,[3327] it is asserted, and with the same degree of untruthfulness, ensures vengeance upon our enemies.
CHAP. 60.—HELIOTROPIUM. HEPHÆSTITIS. HERMUAIDOION. HEXECONTALITHOS. HIERACITIS. HAMMITIS. HAMMONIS CORNU. HORMISCION. HYÆNIA. HÆMATITIS.
Heliotropium[3328] is found in Æthiopia, Africa, and Cyprus: it is of a leek-green colour, streaked with blood-red veins. It has been thus named,[3329] from the circumstance that, if placed in a vessel of water and exposed to the full light of the sun, it changes to a reflected colour like that of blood; this being the case with the stone of Æthiopia more particularly. Out of the water, too, it reflects the figure of the sun like a mirror, and it discovers eclipses of that luminary by showing the moon passing over its disk. In the use of this stone, also, we have a most glaring illustration of the impudent effrontery of the adepts in magic, for they say that, if it is combined with the plant[3330] heliotropium, and certain incantations are then repeated over it, it will render the person invisible who carries it about him.
Hephæstitis[3331] also, though a radiant stone, partakes of the properties of a mirror in reflecting objects. The mode of testing it is to put it into boiling water, which should immediately become cold. If exposed to the rays of the sun, it should instantly cause dry fuel to ignite:[3332] Corycus[3333] is the place where it is found. Hermuaidoion[3334] is so called from the resemblance to the male organs which it presents, on a ground that is sometimes white, sometimes black, and sometimes of a pallid hue, with a circle surrounding it of a golden colour. Hexecontalithos[3335] receives its name from the numerous variety of colours which, small as it is, it presents: it is found in Troglodytica.[3336] Hieracitis[3337] is entirely covered with mottled streaks, resembling a kite’s feathers alternately with black. Hammitis[3338] is similar in appearance to the spawn of fish: there is also one variety of it which has all the appearance of being composed of nitre,[3339] except that it is remarkably hard. Hammonis cornu[3340] is reckoned among the most sacred gems of Æthiopia; it is of a golden colour, like a ram’s horn in shape, and ensures prophetic dreams, it is said.
Hormiscion[3341] is one of the most pleasing stones to the sight; it is of a fiery colour, and emits rays like gold, tipped at the extremity with a whitish light. Hyænia[3342] is derived from the eyes of the hyæna, it is said, the animal being hunted to obtain it; placed beneath the tongue, if we believe the story, it will enable a person to prophesy the future. Hæmatitis,[3343] of the very finest quality, comes from Æthiopia, but it is found in Arabia and Africa as well. It is a stone of a blood-red colour, and we must not omit to mention the assurance given [by the magicians], that the possession of it reveals treacherous designs on the part of the barbarians. Zachalias of Babylon, in the books which he dedicated to King Mithridates, attributing the destinies of man to certain properties innate in precious stones, is not content with vaunting the merits of this stone as curative of diseases of the eyes and liver, but recommends it also as ensuring success to petitions addressed to kings. He also makes it play its part in lawsuits and judgments, and even goes so far as to say that it is highly beneficial to be rubbed with it on the field of battle. There is another stone of the same class, called “menui” by the people of India, and “xanthos”[3344] by the Greeks: it is of a whitish, tawny colour.
CHAP. 61.—IDÆI DACTYLI. ICTERIAS. JOVIS GEMMA. INDICA. ION.
The stones called Idæi dactyli,[3345] and found in Crete, are of an iron colour, and resemble the human thumb in shape. The colour of icterias[3346] resembles that of livid skin, and hence it is that it has been thought so excellent a remedy for jaundice. There is also another stone of this name, of a still more livid colour; while a third has all the appearance of a leaf. This last is broader than the others, almost imponderous, and streaked with livid veins. A fourth kind again is of the same colour, but blacker, and marked all over with livid veins. Jovis gemma[3347] is a white stone, very light, and soft: another name given to it is “drosolithos.”[3348] Indica[3349] retains the name of the country that produces it: it is a stone of a reddish colour, and yields a purple liquid[3350] when rubbed. There is another stone also of this name, white, and of a dusty appearance. Ion[3351] is an Indian stone, of a violet tint: it is but rarely, however, that it is found of a deep, full, colour.
CHAP. 62.—LEPIDOTIS. LESBIAS. LEUCOPHTHALMOS. LEUCOPŒCILOS. LIBANOCHRUS. LIMONIATIS. LIPAREA. LYSIMACHOS. LEUCOCHRYSOS.
Lepidotis[3352] is a stone of various colours, and resembles the scales of fish in appearance. Lesbias, so called from Lesbos which produces it, is a stone found in India as well. Leucophthalmos,[3353] which in other respects is of a reddish hue, presents all the appearance of an eye, in white and black. Leucopœcilos[3354] is white, variegated with drops of vermilion of a golden hue. Libanochrus[3355] strongly resembles frankincense, and yields a liquid like honey. Limoniatis[3356] would appear to be the same as smaragdus; and all that we find said about liparea[3357] is, that employed in the form of a fumigation, it allures all kinds of wild beasts. Lysimachos resembles Rhodian marble, with veins of gold: in polishing it, it is reduced very considerably in size, in order to remove all defects. Leucochrysos[3358] is a kind of chrysolithos interspersed with white.