Engraved and Carved Gems as Talismans

12 pages in this part of The Curious Lore of Precious Stones.

THE virtue believed to be inherent in precious stones was thought to gain an added potency when the stone was engraved with some symbol or…

The scarab, so highly favored by the Egyptians as an ornamental form, is a representation of the scarabaeus sacer, the typical genus of the…

Many scaraba and signets exist made of the artificial cyanus, which was an imitation lapis-lazuli made in Egypt. This was an alkaline…

These cylinders are perforated and were worn suspended from the neck or wrist, as is most frequently the case with talismans, and the…

In Roman times the image of Alexander the Great was looked upon as possessing magic virtues, and it is related that when Cornelius Macer…

Many explanations have been offered as to the origin and significance of the characteristic figure of the Abrasax god engraved on a number…

A curious amulet, apparently belonging to the Gnostic variety, and intended to bring success to the owner of a racehorse, is now in the…

As illustrating the eclectic character of some of the amulets used in the early Christian centuries, we may note one in the Cabinet de…

A bear, if engraved on an amethyst, has the virtue of putting demons to flight and defends and preserves the wearer from drunkenness. A man…

Because of its peculiar markings, some of which suggest the form of an eye, malachite was worn in some parts of Italy (e.g., in Bettona) as…

A few even of the early writers were disposed to be sceptical as to the virtues ascribed to these engraved gems, and did not hesitate to…

This was very freely rendered by Thomas Nicols as follows: (Nicols, "Faithful Lapidary," London, 1659.) Nature by frailty doth dayly waste…