# On the Twelve Stones of the High Priest's Breastplate

- Author: [Epiphanius of Salamis](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/epiphanius/)
- Latin title: *De duodecim gemmis*
- Date: 394 (probable)
- Source: J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae cursus completus, series Graeca 43 (Paris, 1858) (Greek text: Migne, PG 43, from the Internet Archive's OCR)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/
- Passages: 14

## On the Twelve Stones 0 (Preface)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-0
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: Epiphanius introduces his account of the twelve stones of the high priest's breastpiece and lists them by rows.

### Greek text

περὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ λογίῳ τῆς ἑπωμέδος τοῦ ἱερέως ἐπὶ τοῦ στήθους ᾿Ααρὼν προστεταγμένων τότε ἐμπεπορπῆσθαι λίθων, τάς τε ὀνομασίας, τάς τε χρόας, εἴτ᾽ οὖν ἰδέας, τούς τε τόπους, χαὶ τὰς εἰς θεοσέδειαν φερούσας τῶν αὐτῶν λίθων θεωρίας, χαὶ ἔχαστος λίθος, ὑπὲρ ποίας φυλῆς ἑτέταχτο᾽ πόθεν τε εὕρηται, καὶ ποίας πατρίδος. Τετραχῇ δὲ διαιρεῖται τὸ λόγιον, χαὶ αὐτὸ τετράγωνον, σπιθαμῆς τὸ μῆχος χαὶ εὗρος ὁμοίως. Τοῦ μὲν πρώτου στίχου πρῶτος λίθος σάρδιον, εἶτα τοπάζιον, εἶτα σμάραγδος. Τοῦ δὲ δευτέρου στίχου πρῶτος λίθος ἄνθραξ, εἶτα σάπφειρος, εἶτα ἴασπις. Τοῦ τρίτου στίχου πρῶτος λίθος, λιγύριον, εἶτα ἀχάτης, …, εἶτα βηρύλλιον, εἶτα ὀνύχιον. Καὶ οὗτοι μὲν εἰσὶν οἱ ιβ΄, οἱ ἐν τῇ ἐπωμίδι τοῦ ἱερέως ἐξηρτημένοι, ὧν χαὶ διαφοραὶ, καὶ οἱ τόποι οὗτοι

### English translation (Claude)

[Concerning] the stones which were then commanded to be set in the oracle of the priest's ephod, upon the breast of Aaron: their names and their colours, or appearances, and their places, and the contemplations of these same stones that lead to piety; and for which tribe each stone was appointed, and where it is found, and from what country. The oracle is divided into four, and is itself square, a span in length and likewise in breadth. Of the first row the first stone is sardius, then topaz, then emerald. Of the second row the first stone is anthrax, then sapphire, then jasper. Of the third row the first stone is ligure, then agate, … then beryl, then onyx. And these are the twelve that hung on the priest's ephod; and their differences and places are these:

### Scripture references

- Exod 28:15–21: allusion, high confidence
- Exod 39:8–14: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- Exod 28:15–21 (39:8–14). The scan here interleaves Migne's Latin translation, garbled, with the Greek; the garbled Latin is removed by a logged correction, and the Greek it displaced is lost (shown “…”). The lost words evidently named the amethyst (third row) and the chrysolite (first of the fourth row), as in sections 9–10. The stone names follow the Septuagint list; ancient identifications of these stones differ from modern mineral names.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. pref. (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/0).

## On the Twelve Stones 1 (Sardion)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-1
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The sardius, a blood-red stone of Babylon, and the related sardonyx, with their medical uses.

### Greek text

Πρῶτος λίθος σάρδιος ὁ Βαδυλώνιος, οὕτω χαλούμενος, Ἔστι δὲ πυρωπὸς τῷ εἴδει χαὶ αἱματοειδὴς, σαρδίῳ τῷ ἰχθύϊ τεταριχευμένῳ ἐοιχώς διὸ καὶ σάρδος λέγεται, ἀπὸ τοῦ εἴδους λαβὼν τὸ ἐπώνυμον. Ἐν Βαδυλῶνι δὲ τῇ πρὸς ᾿Ασσυρίαν γίνεται. Ἔστι δὲ διαυγὴς ὁ λίθος δυνάμεως δέ ἐστι θεραπευτιχῆς, ᾧ χέχρηνται οἱ ἰατροὶ πρὸς οἰδήματα, καὶ ἄλλας πληγὰς ὑπὸ σιδήρου γιγνομένας. Ἔστι δὲ χαὶ ἄλλος, φαρδόνυξ, ὃς χαλεῖται μολοχάς μαλαχτιχὸς δέ ἔστι στεατωμάτων. Τῆς δὲ αὐτῆς ἰδέας τυγχάνει, … ποῦ ἕαρος, ὅτε ἣ ἀρχὴ τῶν παθῶν.

### English translation (Claude)

The first stone, sardius, the Babylonian, as it is called. It is fiery in appearance and blood-like, resembling the salted sardine fish; hence it is also called sardion, taking its name from its appearance. It occurs in Babylon toward Assyria. The stone is translucent, and it has healing power, which physicians use for swellings and other wounds made by iron. There is also another, the sardonyx, which is called molochas; it softens fatty tumours. It is of the same kind … in spring, when the onset of the ailments [comes].

### Translation notes

- Several lines of the Greek are lost in the scan, which interleaves Migne's Latin translation in garbled form; the garbled Latin is removed by a logged correction and the gap is shown “…”.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 1 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/1).

## On the Twelve Stones 2 (Topaz)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-2
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The topaz of India, how it was found and given to a queen, and its milky juice used for eyes and dropsy.

### Greek text

Λίθος τοπάζιον, ἐρυθρὸς τῷ εἴδει ὑπὲρ τὸν ἄνθρακα. Γίνεται δὲ ἐν Τοπάζῃ πόλει τῆς Ἰνδίας, ὑπὸ τῶν ἐχεῖσέ ποτε λίθους λατομούντων, ἐν χαρδίᾳ ἑτέρου λίθου ὃν οἱ λατομήσαντες θεασάμενοι φαιδρὸν, καὶ ὑποδείξαντες ἀλάδαστρόν τισιν ᾿, ἀπέδοντο ὀλίγου τιμήματος. Θηδαῖοι δὲ προσήνεγχαν τῇ χατ᾽ ἐχεῖνον καιρὸν βασιλίσσῃ ἡ δὲ λαθοῦσα, ἐν τῷ αὐτῆς διαδήματι μέσον τοῦ μετώπου περιέθετο. Ἔχει δὲ ὦ λίθος δοχιμὴν τοιάνδε Τριθόμενος ἐν ἰατριχῇ ἀχόνῃ; οὐχ ἐρυθρὸν ἀποδίδωσι χατὰ τὸ χρῶμα τὸν χυλὸν» ἀλλὰ γαλαχτώδη. Ἐμπίπλησι δὲ χρατῆρας ὅσους ἂν θέλῃ ἀποτρίδων, χαὶ τοῦ προτέρου σταθμοῦ οὐχ ἐλατποὔται οὐδ᾽ ὅλως. Χρησιμεύει δὲ χαὶ ὁ ἐξ αὐτοῦ οὗτος χυλὸς πρὸς πάθος ὀφθαλμῶν. Καὶ πινόμενο; δὲ ἀντιπαθεῖ πρὸς ὕδρωπας, χαὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ σταφυλῆς θαλασ

### English translation (Claude)

The stone topaz, red in appearance, more so than the anthrax. It occurs at Topaza, a city of India, [found] by those who once quarried stones there, in the heart of another stone. The quarrymen, seeing it bright and showing it to some people as alabaster, sold it for a small price. Thebans brought it to the queen of that time, and she, taking it, set it in her diadem in the middle of her forehead. The stone has this test: rubbed on a physician's whetstone it gives off a juice not red, according to its colour, but milky. Rubbed down, it fills as many bowls as one wishes, and loses nothing at all of its former weight. This juice from it is useful for diseases of the eyes; and when drunk it counteracts dropsies and those [poisoned] by the sea …

### Translation notes

- The section breaks off in the scan (shown “…”); the last words may refer to a poisonous sea creature (“sea-grape”). The digital text prints χ for κ and similar slips throughout this work; they are read by sense and not corrected one by one.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 2 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/2).

## On the Twelve Stones 3 (Emerald)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-3
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The emerald, its Neronian and other kinds, its supposed origin in the river Pishon of Genesis, and its powers.

### Greek text

Λίθος σμάραγδος, Οὗτος χαλεῖται χαὶ πράσινος. Ἕστι δὲ καὶ χλωρὸς τῷ εἴδει, καὶ διαφορά τις ἐν αὐτοῖς. Τινὲς μὲν γὰρ αὐτοὺς Νερωνιανοὺς χαλοῦσιν ἄλλοι δὲ Δομετιανούς. Καὶ ὁ μὲν Νερωνιανὲς πικρός ἔστι τῷ εἴδει, σφόδρα χλωρίζων, διειδὴς χαὶ στίλοων. Καλεῖσθαι δὲ Νερωνιανὸν λέγουσιν, εἴτουν Δομετιανὸν, διὰ τοιαύτην αἰτίαν ὅτι φασὶν ἔλαιον Νέρωνα εἴτε Δομετιανὸν ἐν σχεύεσι βαλεῖν ἱχανοῖς, χαὶ ἐχ τοῦ ἰοῦ τῷ χρόνῳ χλωραίνεσθαι τὸ ἔλαιον, καὶ ἐχ τούτου τὴν πέτραν ποτιξζομένην περισσοτέρως χνίτην τῶν παλαιῶν πιναροποιὸν, εἴτουν λιθουργὸν,, ἐφευρεῖν τὸ ἀναγχαιότατον τοῦ σμαράγδου, χαὶ ἐκ τούτου Νερωνιανὸν χαλεῖσθαι - οἱ δὲ Δομετιανόν-. ᾿Αλλὰ χαὶ ἄλλοι εἰσὶ σμάραγδοι. Ὁ μὲν πρῶτος ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ, πάνυ ἐοικὼς τῷ Νερωνιανῷ. Ὁ δὲ ἕτερος ἐν τῇ Αἰθιοπίᾳ, ὃν χαὶ ἐν τῷ Φεισσῶνι ποταμῷ λέγεται γεγεννῆσθαι. Φεισσὼν δέ ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τοῖς Ἕλλησιν Ἰνδὸς χαλούμενος, παρὰ τοῖς Βαρδάροις δὲ Γάγγης. Λέγουσι δὲ καὶ τὸν ἄνθραχα ἐν αὐτῷ γίνεσθαι. Ἐχεῖ γὰρ, φησὶν, ὁ ἄνθραξ, καὶ ὁ λίθος ὁ πράσινος. Ἧ δὲ δύναμις, φασὶ, τοῦ λίθου, δηλαδὴ τοῦ σμαράγδου, πρὸ; τὸ ἐνοπτρίζεσθαι πρόσωπον. ΛέγεὉ τᾶι δὲ παρὰ τοῖς μυθοποιοῖς προγνωστιχὸς εἶναι.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone emerald. This is also called prasinos [“leek-green”]. It is green in appearance, and there is some difference among them. For some call them Neronian, and others Domitianic. The Neronian is sharp [?] in appearance, very green, translucent and gleaming. They say it is called Neronian, or Domitianic, for this reason: they say that Nero, or Domitian, put oil in suitable vessels, and from the verdigris the oil turned green in time; and that, from this, a craftsman of the ancients, a stone-worker, steeping the stone more abundantly, discovered the most valued kind of emerald; and from this it is called Neronian, or by others Domitianic. But there are other emeralds too. The first is in Judea, very like the Neronian. The second is in Ethiopia, which is also said to have been produced in the river Pishon. The Pishon is the river called Indus among the Greeks and Ganges among the barbarians. They say that the anthrax too occurs in it: “For there”, it says, “is the anthrax and the leek-green stone.” The power of the stone, that is, of the emerald, they say, is for seeing a face reflected. And among the fable-makers it is said to foretell the future.

### Scripture references

- Gen 2:11–12: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Gen 2:11–12 in the Septuagint wording (“there is the anthrax and the leek-green stone”). The story of Nero's or Domitian's oil is garbled in the scan and is translated by sense; “sharp” renders πικρός, which may be a slip. Epiphanius's identification of the Pishon is given as he states it.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 3 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/3).

## On the Twelve Stones 4 (Carbuncle)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-4
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The anthrax (carbuncle) of Carthage, which glows at night and cannot be hidden, and similar stones.

### Greek text

Λίθος ἄνθραξ. Οὗτος εἶδος ξυφοίνιχον ἔχει. Γίνεται δὲ ἐν Καρχηδόνι τῆς Λιδύης, ἥτις ᾿Αφριχὴ χαλεῖται. Ἕτεροι δέ φασι τὸν λίθον τοῦτον οὕτως εὑρίσχεσθαι, οὐχ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ χατοπτενόμενον, ἀλλὰ χατὰ τὴν νύχτα πόῤῥωθεν δίχην λαμπάδος ἣ ἄνθραχος σπινθηρίζοντος, καὶ ὡς μαχρόθεν φαίνοντος. Καὶ τούτου ἐπιγινώσχοντες, οἱ τοῦτον ἀνερευνῶντες, ῥᾳδίως εὑρίσχουσιν αὐτόν. Βασταζόμενον δὲ ἀδύνατον διαλαθεῖν ὁποίοις γὰρ ἂν ἱματίοις καταχρυῇ, ἡ ἀνταύγεια αὐτοῦ ἔξωθεν τῆς περιδολῇς φαίνεται λίθος αὐτῷ ἔοιχε, Καλοῦσι δὲ τὸν χεραύνιον, οἷνωπόν. Ἔστι δὲ ὁ Χαλκηδόνιος ' χαλούμενος λέθος παραπλήσιος τούτῳ, ὅτι καὶ ἐχ τοῦ αὐτοῦ τόπου εὑρέ

### English translation (Claude)

The stone anthrax. This has a fiery-red appearance. It occurs at Carthage in Libya, which is called Africa. Others say that this stone is found in this way: it is not seen by day, but by night, from afar, sparkling like a lamp or a live coal, and showing as if from a distance. Knowing this, those who search for it find it easily. When carried it cannot be hidden; for whatever clothes it is covered with, its gleam shows outside the covering. … a stone is like it; they call the thunder-stone wine-coloured. And the stone called Chalcedonian is similar to this, because it too is found in the same place …

### Translation notes

- Words are lost before “a stone is like it”, and the section breaks off at the end (shown “…”).

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 4 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/4).

## On the Twelve Stones 5 (Sapphire)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-5
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The purple sapphire of India and Ethiopia, its kinds and healing use, and its link with God's appearing to Moses.

### Greek text

Λίθος σάπφειρος πορφυρίζων, ὡς βλάττης πορφύρᾶς τῆςς μελαίνης τὸ εἶδος. Πολλὰ δὲ γένη τούτου ὑπάρχουσιν. Ἔστι γὰρ ὁ βασιλιχὸς, χρυσοστιγής οὗ πάνυ δὲ οὗτος θαυμαζόμενος, ὡς ὁ διόλου πορφυρίζων. Καὶ οὗτος δὲ λέγεται εἶναι ἐν τῇ Ἰνδίᾳ καὶ Αἰθιοπίᾳ. Διὸ τὸ τέμενος παρὰ Ἰνδοῖς φασὶν εἶναι τοῦ Διονύσου τξε’ ἀναδαθμοὺς ἔχον ἐκ σαπφείρου λίθου, εἰ χαὶ τοῖς πολλοῖς ὑπάρχει ἄπιστον. Ἔστι δὲ θαυμαστὸς ὁ λίθος καὶ εὐειδέστατως, χαὶ χαριέστατος. Διὸ χαὶ ἐν τοῖς χλιδόσι χαὶ ὁρμίσχοις κατατιθέασι τοῦτον, μάλιστα οἱ βασιλεῖς. ᾿Αλεξίπονος δέ ἐστι. Τριδόμενος γὰρ χαὶ ψυδράχων χαὶ φυμάτων γινομένας πληγὰς σὺν γάλαχτι ἰᾶται, χριόμενος τοῖς ἡλχωμένοις τόποις. Γέγραπται δὲ χαὶ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ, τὴν Μωῦσῇ . ὀφθεῖδαν ὀπτασίαν ἐν τῷ ὄρει, καὶ δοθεῖσαν νομοῦεσίαν, ἐπὶ λίθου σαπφείρου πεφυχέναι λέγεται.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone sapphire, purplish, like the appearance of black purple dye. There are many kinds of it. For there is the royal, gold-spotted; but this is not so much admired as the one that is purple throughout. This too is said to be in India and Ethiopia. Hence they say that the sanctuary of Dionysus among the Indians has 365 steps of sapphire stone, though to most this is incredible. The stone is wonderful, most beautiful and most graceful; hence they set it in bracelets and necklaces, especially kings. It relieves pain; for rubbed down with milk it heals the wounds caused by pustules and growths, when anointed on the ulcerated places. It is also written in the law that the vision seen by Moses on the mountain, and the giving of the law, are said to have taken place upon a sapphire stone.

### Scripture references

- Exod 24:10: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Exod 24:10 (and 24:12).

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 5 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/5).

## On the Twelve Stones 6 (Jasper)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-6
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The several kinds of jasper, from the Thermodon, Amathus, Mount Ida and elsewhere, and fables about them.

### Greek text

Λίθος ἴασπις. Οὗτός ἔστι τῷ εἴδει σμαραγδίζων, παρὰ δὲ τὰ χείλη τοῦ Θερμώδοντος ποταμοῦ εὑρί᾿λλλ᾽ ἔστι γένος πολὺ χαλούμενον ᾿Αμαθούσιον. Τὸ εἶδος δὲ τοιόνδε ἐστὶ τοῦ λίθου: Κατὰ τὴν σμάραγδόν ἔστι χλωρίζοισα, ἀλλὰ ἀμδλυτέρα χαὶ ἀμαυροπέρα. Καὶ ἔνδοθεν χλωρὸν ἔχει τὸ σῶμα, ἑοιχυΐα ἰῷ χαλχοῦ, ἔχοντι φλέδας τετραστίχους ὡς δὲ τοῦτο ἐχούσαμεν εἶναι φαντασίας, ὡς οἱ μυθολόγοι λέγουσιν. Αλλη δέ ἐστι γλαυχοτέρα θαλάσσης, βαθυτέρα τῷ ἄνθει καὶ τῇ βαφῇ. ΓΑλλη δὲ ἐν τοῖς σπηλαίοις, ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῆς Ἴδης ἐν τῇ Φρυγίᾳ, ὁμοιάζουσα τῇ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος χόχλου, διαυγεστέρα μᾶλλον, ὥσπερ ἔστι μιᾶς χροιᾶς, οὐδὲ τῆς σὐτῆς δυνάμεως. ᾿Αλλ᾽ ἡ μὲν ἔστι χαυνοτέρα, χαὶ λευχοτέρα, οὔτε πάνυ στίλθουσα, οὔτε πάλιν ἀτ:οδέουσα ἄλλη δὲ χρυστάλλου ὕδατι ὁμοία. Λέγεται δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν μυθοποιῶν καὶ ποιμέσιν Ὑρκανῶν τοῖς χατὰ τὴν Κασπίαν γῆν. … ἔχει γραμμὰς μέσας. Καὶ ἄλλος ἴασπις ὁ παλαιὸς χαλούμενος, ὅμοιος ἣ χιόν!, ἣ ἀφρῷ θαλάσσης. Τοῦτόν φασιν οἱ μυθοποιοὶ τοὺς θῆρας τοὺς ἐν ἀγρῷ φοδεῖσθαι, καὶ τὰ φάσματα.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone jasper. This is emerald-like in appearance, and it is found by the banks of the river Thermodon. But there is a large kind called Amathusian. The appearance of the stone is this: like the emerald it is greenish, but duller and dimmer; and inside it has a green body, like the verdigris of bronze, with veins in four rows; … as the mythologers say. Another is greyer than the sea, deeper in bloom and dye. Another, in the caves of Mount Ida in Phrygia, resembles the [purple] from the blood of the shellfish, rather more translucent; … not of one colour, nor of the same power. One is more porous and whiter, neither very gleaming nor again dull; another is like water of crystal. It is said by the fable-makers also of the Hyrcanian shepherds who live in the Caspian land … [another] has lines in the middle. And there is another jasper called the ancient, like snow or the foam of the sea. This, the fable-makers say, the wild beasts in the field fear, and phantoms.

### Translation notes

- Garbled Latin from Migne's translation interleaved in the scan is removed by a logged correction; lost or garbled Greek is shown “…”.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 6 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/6).

## On the Twelve Stones 7 (Ligurion)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-7
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: Epiphanius cannot find the ligure in the ancient writers and suggests it is the hyacinth, whose kinds and fire-resisting properties he describes.

### Greek text

Λίθος λιγύριον . Τούτου δὲ τὴν εὕρεσιν οὐδαμῶς ἔγνωμεν, οὔτε παρὰ φυσιολόγοις, οὔτε παρά τισιν ἀρχαίοις τοῖς περὶ τούτων μεμεριμνηχόσιν. Εὕὔρομὲν δὲ λαγχούριον οὕτω χἀλούμενον χίθον, ὅν τινες ᾿ χαρχηδόνιος. ταῖς. ὃ ᾿Αμαθοῦντα τὴν ἐν Κύπρῳ. ἔχουσα. φ. τέτ. χαὶ ταύτην ἄχος εἶναι φᾶν» … τοῦτο οἶμαι τὸ λιγύριον, ἐπειδὴ αἱ θεῖαι Γραφαὶ τὰ ὀνόματα ἑτέρως μετεποιήσαντο ὡς τὸν σμάραγδον πράσινον. Καὶ ὅτι πως ἐν τῇ τῶν λίθων τούτων ὀνομασίᾳ, οὐχ ἐμνήσθησαν χαὶ ὑαχίνθου, χαίτοι γε προόπτου καὶ ἐντίμου ὄντος λίθου ὥστε εἰς νοῦν ἡμᾶς λαθεῖν, μήποτε τὸ λιγύριον τοῦτο χαλεῖ ἡ θεία Γραφή. Ὑάκινθος οὖν τὰς μὲν ἰδέας ἔχει διαφόρους. Ὅσῳ γὰρ' εὑρίσχεται ὁ λίθος βαθὺς τῇ χροιᾷ, τοσοῦτον ἀναγχαιότερός ἐστι τῶν ἄλλων. ἴἜοιχε δὲ ὑάχινθος τῇ ἐρέᾳ, ἣ ὑποπορφυρίζων ᾽ ποσῶς. Διὸ χαὶ ἡ θεία Γραφὴ ἐξ ὑαχίνθου καὶ προφύρας τὰ ἱερατιχὰ ἐνδύματα χεχοσμῆῇσθαί φησι. Καὶ ὁ μὲν πρῶτος λίθος καλεῖται θαλασσίτης ὁ δὲ δεύτερος, ῥοδινός ὁ τρίτος, νάτιθος ὁ τέταρτος λέγεται χαννιαῖος ὁ δὲ πέμπτος, παραλεύχιος . Εὑρίσχονται δὲ οὗτοι ἐν τῇ ἐσωτέρᾳ βαρδαρίᾳ τῆς Σχυθίας. Οὗτοι δὲ οἱ λίθοι μετὰ τοῦ εἶναι πολύτιμοι, ἔχουσι καὶ ἐνέργειαν τοιαύτην᾽ Βαλλόμενοι εἰς ἄνθρακας πυρὸς, αὐτοὶ μὲν οὐ βλάπτονται, ποὺς δὲ ἄνθραχας σθεννύουσιν. Οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰ λαθών τις τὸν λίθον ἐνειλίσσῃ ὀθόνῃ, καὶ ἐπιθῇ ἐπ᾿ ἄνθραχας πυρὸς, οὐδ᾽ αὐτὴ ἡ καλύπτουτα ὀθόνη φλογίζεται, ἀλλὰ μένει ἀσινῆς. Λέγεται δὲ ὁ λίθος ταῖς τιχτούσαις γυναιξὶν εἰς εὐτεχνίαν χρηςιμεύειν. Ἔστι δὲ χαὶ φασμάτων ἀπελαστιχός.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone ligure. Its discovery we have found nowhere, neither among the natural philosophers nor among any of the ancients who concerned themselves with these things. But we found a stone so called, lyncurium, which some … Carthaginian … Amathus in Cyprus … I think this is the ligure, since the divine Scriptures changed the names otherwise, as they call the emerald prasinos. And because somehow, in naming these stones, they did not mention the hyacinth, though it is a conspicuous and valued stone, it came into our mind that perhaps the divine Scripture calls it this ligure. The hyacinth has different kinds. The deeper the stone is found in colour, the more valuable it is than the others. The hyacinth is like wool, or somewhat purplish. Hence the divine Scripture too says that the priestly garments were adorned with hyacinth and purple. The first kind is called sea-coloured; the second, rose-coloured; the third, natithos; the fourth is called channiaios; and the fifth, whitish. These are found in the inner barbarian land of Scythia. These stones, besides being very valuable, have this property: thrown on burning coals they are not harmed themselves, but they put the coals out. And not only this, but if someone takes the stone and wraps it in linen and puts it on burning coals, not even the linen covering it catches fire, but it remains unharmed. The stone is said to be useful to women in childbirth for an easy delivery. It also drives away phantoms.

### Scripture references

- Exod 28:5–6: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Exod 28:5–6 (hyacinth and purple in the priestly garments). Several words in the scan are fragmentary and the interleaved garbled Latin is removed by a logged correction; gaps are shown “…”. Two of the names of kinds (natithos, channiaios) are uncertain readings.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 7 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/7).

## On the Twelve Stones 8 (Agate)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-8
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The agate, its white-rimmed and lion-coloured kinds, and its use against venom.

### Greek text

Λίθος ἀχάτης. Οὗτος ὑπελήφθη εἶναι περίλευχος χαλούμενος, ὃς ὑπὸ τὸν ὑάχινθον εὑρίσκεται. θαυμαστὸς δέ ἐστι, τῷ εἴδει ὑποχνανίζων, ἔξωθεν περιφέρεταν λευχὴν ἔχων, μαρμάρου τρόπον ἣ ἐλεφαντίνου ὅ. Καὶ οὗτος δὲ περὶ τὴν Σχυθίαν εὑρίσχεται. Ἔστι δὲ ἐχ τούτων τῶν λίθων ἀχάτης χρῶμα ἔχων λέοντος τριδόμενος δὲ μεθ᾽ ὕδατος, χαὶ χριόμενος ἐπὶ δήγματος θηρίου, ἀποτρέπει ἰὸν σχοοπίου, καὶ ἐχιδνῶν, χαὶ τῶν τοιούτων.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone agate. This was supposed to be the one called perileukos [“white-rimmed”], which is found under the hyacinth. It is wonderful, bluish in appearance, with a white rim outside, like marble or ivory. This too is found around Scythia. Among these stones there is an agate having the colour of a lion; rubbed down with water and anointed on the bite of a beast, it turns away the venom of the scorpion and of vipers and the like.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 8 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/8).

## On the Twelve Stones 9 (Amethyst)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-9
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The amethyst, fiery at the edge and pale in the middle, found in Libya.

### Greek text

Λίθος ἀμέθυστος. Οὗτος χατὰ τὴν αὑτοῦ περιφέρειαν φλογίζων ἐστὶ βαθέως. Ἡ δὲ αὐτή ἐστι λευχοτέρα ἐκ τοῦ μέσον, οἰνωπὸν ἀποπέμπουσα εἶδος. Ἡ δὲ μορφὴ αὐτοῦ διάφορος. Τάχα δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι γίνετα: τῆς Λιδύης. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ αὐτῶν ἐστιν ὑαχίνθῳ καθαρῷ παραπλήσιος ὁ δὲ ἀμφιχόχλῳ. Γίνεται ᾿ ἐν ταῖς ὄχθαις τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς αὐτῆς Λιδύης.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone amethyst. This is deeply fiery around its edge, while the same is whiter in the middle, giving off a wine-coloured appearance. Its form varies. Perhaps it too occurs in the mountains of Libya. For one of them is like pure hyacinth, another like the amphikochlos [?]. It occurs on the shores of the sea of that same Libya.

### Translation notes

- The meaning of ἀμφίκοχλος is uncertain.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 9 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/9).

## On the Twelve Stones 10 (Chrysolite)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-10
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The golden chrysolite, found in a well by the wall of Babylon.

### Greek text

Λίθος χρυσόλιθος. Τοῦτόν τινες χρυσόφυλλον χεχλήχασι. Χρυσίζων μὲν ἔστιν. Εὑρίσκεται δὲ ἐν τῷ φρέατι διπέτρῳ, παρὰ τὸ τεῖχος τῆς ᾿Αχαιμενίτιδος Βαθυλῶνος. Τὴν γὰρ Βαδυλῶνα καὶ τὸ φρέαρ ἐχεῖνο ᾿Αχαιμενίτιδα καλοῦσιν, ὅτι, φασὶν, ὁ πατὴρ Κύρου τοῦ βασιλέως, ᾿Αχιμενεὺς ἐχαλεῖτο. Ἔστι θαλάσσης, νεὶ θαλασσίῳ κόχλῳ γεὶ ροιίμο λιακοῖς τριδόμενος, καὶ πινόμενος, ἰαματιχὸς ὑπάρ

### English translation (Claude)

The stone chrysolite. Some have called this chrysophyllon. It is golden. It is found in the well of double rock by the wall of Achaemenid Babylon. For they call Babylon and that well Achaemenid because, they say, the father of King Cyrus was called Achaemenes. … rubbed down and drunk it is healing …

### Translation notes

- The end of the section is garbled in the scan and breaks off (shown “…”). Epiphanius's statement about Cyrus's father is given as he states it.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 10 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/10).

## On the Twelve Stones 11 (Beryl)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-11
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The sea-coloured beryl of the Taurus and its other kinds.

### Greek text

Λίθος βηρύλλιον, γλαυχίξων μὲν ἔστι, θαλασσοθαφὴς, ἔχων εἶδος χαὶ τῆς ὑδαρεστέρας ὑαχίνθου. Γίνεται δὲ περὶ τὸ τέρμα τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ καλουμένου Ταύρου. Ἐῤ δέ τις θελήσῃ κατὰ ἀντιχρὺ τοῦ ἡλίου ποῦτον ἀναχαλέσαι '᾿, φαίνεται ὡς ὕελο; χέγχρους ἔχων ἔνδοθεν διαυγεῖς. Αλλη δέ τις βήρυλλος, ταῖς χόραις τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν τοῦ δράχοντός ἐστι παραπληςία. Ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλη πάλιν ὁμοία χηρῷ. Ἐφάνη δὲ αὕτη περὶ τὴν ἔξοδον τοῦ Εὐφράτου ποταμοῦ.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone beryl. It is bluish-grey, sea-tinted, having also the appearance of the more watery hyacinth. It occurs near the end of the mountain called Taurus. If one wishes to hold it up against the sun, it appears like glass with translucent grains inside. Another beryl is like the pupils of a serpent's eyes. And another again is like wax; this appeared near the outflow of the river Euphrates.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 11 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/11).

## On the Twelve Stones 12 (Onyx)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-12
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The yellow onyx, its kinds and the origin of its name, and its wearing by the high priest.

### Greek text

Λίθος τὸ ὀνύχιον. Οὗτος ὁ λίθος ξανθὴν πάνυ ἔχει τὴν χροιάν, Τέρπεσθαι δὲ τῷ λίθῳ τούτῳ φασὶ τὰς νύμφας τῶν βασιλέων, ἣ καὶ πλουσίων ἀνδρῶν, αἵἴτινες χαὶ εἰς ἐκπτώματα ἴδια ἀνατρέψασαι ἔχουσι τὸν λίθον τοῦτον. Εἰσὶ δὲ χαὶ ἄλλοι ὀνυχῖται ὁμωνύμὼς καλούμενοι, οἵτινες χηρῷ τῷ μελιχρόῳ εἰσὶ παραπλήσιοι, Τινὲς δέ φασιν αὐτοὺς ἐξ ὕδατος ἀταίχτοὺ πεπῆχθαι. Ὀνυχίτας δὲ αὐτοὺς λέγουσι φυσιολογιχῶς, ἐπεὶ ὁ ὄνυξ τῶν ἀστείων ἀνδρῶν μαρμάρῳ ἐστὶ συνεδιαζόμενο; , σὺν τῇ τοῦ αἵματος ἰδέᾳ. ἼΆλλοι δέ που καὶ τὸν λίθον τὸν μαρμάρινον ἀπὸ τοῦ δοχιμίου, ψευδωνύμως ὀνυχίτην χαλοῦσι διὰ τὸ χαθαρὸν τῆς λευχότητος ὃ. Ὃν καὶ αὑτὸν ἐφόρει ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς τρὶς ἐνιαυτοῦ εἰσερχόμενος εἰς τὰ Ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων.

### English translation (Claude)

The stone onyx. This stone has a very yellow colour. They say that the brides of kings or of rich men delight in this stone, and turn it into drinking cups of their own and keep this stone. There are also other onyx-stones, called by the same name, which are like honey-coloured wax. Some say they are congealed from … water. They call them onyx-stones by a natural explanation, since the nail of well-bred men is like marble mixed with the appearance of blood. And some call even marble from the quarry falsely onychite, because of the purity of its whiteness. This too the high priest wore when he entered the Holy of Holies three times a year.

### Translation notes

- A word describing the water is garbled (shown “…”). On the high priest's entering the Holy of Holies three times a year, see the note on section 13.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 12 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/12).

## On the Twelve Stones 13 (Adamant)

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/epiphanius-gemmis/0/#p-13
- Source: PG 43
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-22

Summary: The adamas, worn by the high priest at the three feasts, which revealed the people's sin by changing colour.

### Greek text

Ὁ λίθος ὁ ἀδάμας ἐμφερής ἐστί χατὰ τὴν χροιὰν τῷ ἀέρι. Τοῦτον δὲ ἐφόρει ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ὅτε εἰσήρχετο εἰς τὰ Λγια τῶν ἁγίων. Τρὶς δὲ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ εἰσήρχετο τῇ ἑορτῇ τοῦ Πάσχα, τῆς Πεντηχοστῇς, καὶ τῆς Σχηνοπηγίας, Ἦν δὲ χείμενος ἐπὶ τοῦ στήθους τοῦ ἀρχιερέως ὅτε ἐνεδιδύσχετο τὸν ποδήρη, χαὶ ἐπάνω τοῦ ποδήρους ἐπενεδύετο τὴν ἐπωμίδα. Κατέθαινε δὲ ἡ ἐπωμὶς ὀλίγον κατώτερον τοῦ στήθους. Ἦν γὰρ σπιθαμῆς χαὶ ἡμισείας τὸ μῆχος. Ἐχ δεξιῶν δὲ χαὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων ἐπάνωθεν τῶν μαζῶν , ἔνθα δύο ἀσπιδίσκοι ἧσαν συνεῤῥαμμένοι, ἀπῃώρηντο δύο σμάραγδοι. Εἰς μέσον δὲ τούτων ἣν ἡ δήλωσις, ὃς ἦν ὁ δηλωθεὶς δ ἀδάμας, τὴν χροιὰν ἀερίξων. Ἐπάνω δὲ τῶν ὥμων οἱ δηλωθέντες διύδεχα λίθοι. Τρὶς δὲ, ὡς εἴρηται, τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐδηλοῦτο τῷ λαῷ διὰ τοῦ πετάλου. Καὶ εἰ ἐν ἁμαρτίᾳ εὑρέθησαν, χαὶ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς, ἃς ἐδεδώχει ὁ Θεὸς, ἐτρέπετο, φασὶν, ἡ χροιὰ τοῦ λίθου, χαὶ ἐγένετο μέλας καὶ ἐχ τούτου ἐγίνω-

### English translation (Claude)

The stone adamas resembles the air in colour. This the high priest wore when he entered the Holy of Holies. He entered three times a year: at the feast of Passover, of Pentecost and of Tabernacles. It lay on the breast of the high priest when he put on the long robe; and over the long robe he put on the ephod. The ephod came down a little below the breast; for it was a span and a half in length. On the right and on the left, above the breasts, where two little shields were sewn on, hung two emeralds. In the middle of them was the Manifestation, which was the adamas that was manifested, airy in colour. Above the shoulders were the twelve stones that were manifested. Three times a year, as has been said, it was made known to the people through the plate. And if they were found in sin and not in the commandments which God had given, the colour of the stone changed, they say, and became black; and from this it was known …

### Scripture references

- Exod 28:30: allusion, high confidence
- Exod 28:9–12: allusion, medium confidence
- Exod 28:36: allusion, medium confidence
- Exod 23:14–17: allusion, medium confidence
- Lev 16:2: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The text breaks off in the scan. “Manifestation” (δήλωσις) is the Septuagint's word for the Urim (Exod 28:30); compare the shoulder stones (Exod 28:9–12) and the plate (Exod 28:36). Epiphanius's statement that the high priest entered the Holy of Holies three times a year, at the three pilgrimage feasts, is given as he states it; Lev 16 prescribes one entry a year.

### Citation (SBL)

Epiphanius, Gem. 13 (PG 43; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/epiphanius-gemmis/13).