On the Twelve Stones of the High Priest's Breastplate
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On the Twelve Stones 0 (Preface)
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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
peri tōn en tǭ logiǭ tēs hepōmedos tou hiereōs epi tou stēthous ᾿Aarōn prostetagmenōn tote empeporpēsthai lithōn, tas te onomasias, tas te chroas, eit᾽ oun ideas, tous te topous, chai tas eis theosedeian pherousas tōn autōn lithōn theōrias, chai echastos lithos, hyper poias phylēs hetetachto᾽ pothen te heurētai, kai poias patridos. Tetrachę̄ de diaireitai to logion, chai auto tetragōnon, spithamēs to mēchos chai heuros homoiōs. Tou men prōtou stichou prōtos lithos sardion, eita topazion, eita smaragdos. Tou de deuterou stichou prōtos lithos anthrax, eita sappheiros, eita iaspis. Tou tritou stichou prōtos lithos, ligyrion, eita achatēs, …, eita bēryllion, eita onychion. Kai houtoi men eisin hoi ib΄, hoi en tę̄ epōmidi tou hiereōs exērtēmenoi, hōn chai diaphorai, kai hoi topoi houtoi
[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:
Chapter 1
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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.
Prōtos lithos sardios ho Badylōnios, houtō chaloumenos, Esti de pyrōpos tǭ eidei chai haimatoeidēs, sardiǭ tǭ ichthyï tetaricheumenǭ eoichōs dio kai sardos legetai, apo tou eidous labōn to epōnymon. En Badylōni de tę̄ pros ᾿Assyrian ginetai. Esti de diaugēs ho lithos dynameōs de esti therapeutichēs, hǭ chechrēntai hoi iatroi pros oidēmata, kai allas plēgas hypo sidērou gignomenas. Esti de chai allos, phardonyx, hos chaleitai molochas malachtichos de esti steatōmatōn. Tēs de autēs ideas tynchanei, … pou hearos, hote hē archē tōn pathōn.
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].
Chapter 2
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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
Lithos topazion, erythros tǭ eidei hyper ton anthraka. Ginetai de en Topazę̄ polei tēs Indias, hypo tōn echeise pote lithous latomountōn, en chardią heterou lithou hon hoi latomēsantes theasamenoi phaidron, kai hypodeixantes aladastron tisin ᾿, apedonto oligou timēmatos. Thēdaioi de prosēnenchan tę̄ chat᾽ echeinon kairon basilissę̄ hē de lathousa, en tǭ autēs diadēmati meson tou metōpou perietheto. Echei de ō lithos dochimēn toiande Trithomenos en iatrichę̄ achonę̄? ouch erythron apodidōsi chata to chrōma ton chylon» alla galachtōdē. Empiplēsi de chratēras hosous an thelę̄ apotridōn, chai tou proterou stathmou ouch elatpoutai oud᾽ holōs. Chrēsimeuei de chai ho ex autou houtos chylos pros pathos ophthalmōn. Kai pinomeno? de antipathei pros hydrōpas, chai tous apo staphylēs thalas
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 …
Chapter 3
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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.
Lithos smaragdos, Houtos chaleitai chai prasinos. Hesti de kai chlōros tǭ eidei, kai diaphora tis en autois. Tines men gar autous Nerōnianous chalousin alloi de Dometianous. Kai ho men Nerōnianes pikros esti tǭ eidei, sphodra chlōrizōn, dieidēs chai stiloōn. Kaleisthai de Nerōnianon legousin, eitoun Dometianon, dia toiautēn aitian hoti phasin elaion Nerōna eite Dometianon en scheuesi balein hichanois, chai ech tou iou tǭ chronǭ chlōrainesthai to elaion, kai ech toutou tēn petran potixzomenēn perissoterōs chnitēn tōn palaiōn pinaropoion, eitoun lithourgon,, epheurein to ananchaiotaton tou smaragdou, chai ek toutou Nerōnianon chaleisthai - hoi de Dometianon-. ᾿Alla chai alloi eisi smaragdoi. Ho men prōtos en tę̄ Ioudaią, pany eoikōs tǭ Nerōnianǭ. Ho de heteros en tę̄ Aithiopią, hon chai en tǭ Pheissōni potamǭ legetai gegennēsthai. Pheissōn de estin ho para tois Hellēsin Indos chaloumenos, para tois Bardarois de Gangēs. Legousi de kai ton anthracha en autǭ ginesthai. Echei gar, phēsin, ho anthrax, kai ho lithos ho prasinos. Hē de dynamis, phasi, tou lithou, dēladē tou smaragdou, pro? to enoptrizesthai prosōpon. LegeO tai de para tois mythopoiois prognōstichos einai.
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.
Chapter 4
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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
Lithos anthrax. Houtos eidos xyphoinichon echei. Ginetai de en Karchēdoni tēs Lidyēs, hētis ᾿Aphrichē chaleitai. Heteroi de phasi ton lithon touton houtōs heurischesthai, ouch en hēmerą chatoptenomenon, alla chata tēn nychta porrhōthen dichēn lampados hē anthrachos spinthērizontos, kai hōs machrothen phainontos. Kai toutou epiginōschontes, hoi touton anereunōntes, rhądiōs heurischousin auton. Bastazomenon de adynaton dialathein hopoiois gar an himatiois katachryę̄, hē antaugeia autou exōthen tēs peridolę̄s phainetai lithos autǭ eoiche, Kalousi de ton cheraunion, hoinōpon. Esti de ho Chalkēdonios ' chaloumenos lethos paraplēsios toutǭ, hoti kai ech tou autou topou heure
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 …
Chapter 5
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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.
Lithos sappheiros porphyrizōn, hōs blattēs porphyras tēss melainēs to eidos. Polla de genē toutou hyparchousin. Esti gar ho basilichos, chrysostigēs hou pany de houtos thaumazomenos, hōs ho diolou porphyrizōn. Kai houtos de legetai einai en tę̄ Indią kai Aithiopią. Dio to temenos para Indois phasin einai tou Dionysou txe’ anadathmous echon ek sappheirou lithou, ei chai tois pollois hyparchei apiston. Esti de thaumastos ho lithos kai eueidestatōs, chai chariestatos. Dio chai en tois chlidosi chai hormischois katatitheasi touton, malista hoi basileis. ᾿Alexiponos de esti. Tridomenos gar chai psydrachōn chai phymatōn ginomenas plēgas syn galachti iatai, chriomenos tois hēlchōmenois topois. Gegraptai de chai en tǭ nomǭ, tēn Mōysę̄ . ophtheidan optasian en tǭ orei, kai dotheisan nomouesian, epi lithou sappheirou pephychenai legetai.
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.
Chapter 6
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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.
Lithos iaspis. Houtos esti tǭ eidei smaragdizōn, para de ta cheilē tou Thermōdontos potamou heuri᾿lll᾽ esti genos poly chaloumenon ᾿Amathousion. To eidos de toionde esti tou lithou: Kata tēn smaragdon esti chlōrizoisa, alla amdlytera chai amauropera. Kai endothen chlōron echei to sōma, heoichyïa iǭ chalchou, echonti phledas tetrastichous hōs de touto echousamen einai phantasias, hōs hoi mythologoi legousin. Allē de esti glauchotera thalassēs, bathytera tǭ anthei kai tę̄ baphę̄. GAllē de en tois spēlaiois, en tǭ orei tēs Idēs en tę̄ Phrygią, homoiazousa tę̄ apo tou haimatos chochlou, diaugestera mallon, hōsper esti mias chroias, oude tēs sytēs dynameōs. ᾿All᾽ hē men esti chaunotera, chai leuchotera, oute pany stilthousa, oute palin at:odeousa allē de chrystallou hydati homoia. Legetai de hypo tōn mythopoiōn kai poimesin Hyrkanōn tois chata tēn Kaspian gēn. … echei grammas mesas. Kai allos iaspis ho palaios chaloumenos, homoios hē chion!, hē aphrǭ thalassēs. Touton phasin hoi mythopoioi tous thēras tous en agrǭ phodeisthai, kai ta phasmata.
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.
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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.
Lithos ligyrion . Toutou de tēn heuresin oudamōs egnōmen, oute para physiologois, oute para tisin archaiois tois peri toutōn memerimnēchosin. Heuyromen de lanchourion houtō chaloumenon chithon, hon tines ᾿ charchēdonios. tais. ho ᾿Amathounta tēn en Kyprǭ. echousa. ph. tet. chai tautēn achos einai phan» … touto oimai to ligyrion, epeidē hai theiai Graphai ta onomata heterōs metepoiēsanto hōs ton smaragdon prasinon. Kai hoti pōs en tę̄ tōn lithōn toutōn onomasią, ouch emnēsthēsan chai hyachinthou, chaitoi ge prooptou kai entimou ontos lithou hōste eis noun hēmas lathein, mēpote to ligyrion touto chalei hē theia Graphē. Hyakinthos oun tas men ideas echei diaphorous. Hosǭ gar' heurischetai ho lithos bathys tę̄ chroią, tosouton ananchaioteros esti tōn allōn. iEoiche de hyachinthos tę̄ ereą, hē hypoporphyrizōn ᾽ posōs. Dio chai hē theia Graphē ex hyachinthou kai prophyras ta hieraticha endymata chechosmēę̄sthai phēsi. Kai ho men prōtos lithos kaleitai thalassitēs ho de deuteros, rhodinos ho tritos, natithos ho tetartos legetai channiaios ho de pemptos, paraleuchios . Heurischontai de houtoi en tę̄ esōterą bardarią tēs Schythias. Houtoi de hoi lithoi meta tou einai polytimoi, echousi kai energeian toiautēn᾽ Ballomenoi eis anthrakas pyros, autoi men ou blaptontai, pous de anthrachas sthennyousin. Ou monon de touto, alla kai ei lathōn tis ton lithon eneilissę̄ othonę̄, kai epithę̄ ep᾿ anthrachas pyros, oud᾽ autē hē kalyptouta othonē phlogizetai, alla menei asinēs. Legetai de ho lithos tais tichtousais gynaixin eis eutechnian chrēsimeuein. Esti de chai phasmatōn apelastichos.
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.
Chapter 8
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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.
Lithos achatēs. Houtos hypelēphthē einai perileuchos chaloumenos, hos hypo ton hyachinthon heurisketai. thaumastos de esti, tǭ eidei hypochnanizōn, exōthen peripheretan leuchēn echōn, marmarou tropon hē elephantinou ho. Kai houtos de peri tēn Schythian heurischetai. Esti de ech toutōn tōn lithōn achatēs chrōma echōn leontos tridomenos de meth᾽ hydatos, chai chriomenos epi dēgmatos thēriou, apotrepei ion schoopiou, kai echidnōn, chai tōn toioutōn.
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.
Chapter 9
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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.
Lithos amethystos. Houtos chata tēn hautou periphereian phlogizōn esti batheōs. Hē de autē esti leuchotera ek tou meson, oinōpon apopempousa eidos. Hē de morphē autou diaphoros. Tacha de kai autos en tois oresi gineta: tēs Lidyēs. Ho men gar autōn estin hyachinthǭ katharǭ paraplēsios ho de amphichochlǭ. Ginetai ᾿ en tais ochthais tēs thalassēs tēs autēs Lidyēs.
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.
Chapter 10
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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
Lithos chrysolithos. Touton tines chrysophyllon chechlēchasi. Chrysizōn men estin. Heurisketai de en tǭ phreati dipetrǭ, para to teichos tēs ᾿Achaimenitidos Bathylōnos. Tēn gar Badylōna kai to phrear echeino ᾿Achaimenitida kalousin, hoti, phasin, ho patēr Kyrou tou basileōs, ᾿Achimeneus echaleito. Esti thalassēs, nei thalassiǭ kochlǭ gei roiimo liakois tridomenos, kai pinomenos, iamatichos hypar
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 …
Chapter 11
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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.
Lithos bēryllion, glauchixōn men esti, thalassothaphēs, echōn eidos chai tēs hydaresteras hyachinthou. Ginetai de peri to terma tou orous tou kaloumenou Taurou. Er de tis thelēsę̄ kata antichry tou hēliou pouton anachalesai '᾿, phainetai hōs hyelo? chenchrous echōn endothen diaugeis. Allē de tis bēryllos, tais chorais tōn ophthalmōn tou drachontos esti paraplēsia. Esti de kai allē palin homoia chērǭ. Ephanē de hautē peri tēn exodon tou Euphratou potamou.
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.
Chapter 12
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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.
Lithos to onychion. Houtos ho lithos xanthēn pany echei tēn chroian, Terpesthai de tǭ lithǭ toutǭ phasi tas nymphas tōn basileōn, hē kai plousiōn andrōn, haiitines chai eis ekptōmata idia anatrepsasai echousi ton lithon touton. Eisi de chai alloi onychitai homōnymōs kaloumenoi, hoitines chērǭ tǭ melichroǭ eisi paraplēsioi, Tines de phasin autous ex hydatos ataichtou pepēchthai. Onychitas de autous legousi physiologichōs, epei ho onyx tōn asteiōn andrōn marmarǭ esti synediazomeno? , syn tę̄ tou haimatos ideą. IAlloi de pou kai ton lithon ton marmarinon apo tou dochimiou, pseudōnymōs onychitēn chalousi dia to chatharon tēs leuchotētos ho. Hon kai hauton ephorei ho archiereus tris eniautou eiserchomenos eis ta Hagia tōn hagiōn.
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.
Chapter 13
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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-
Ho lithos ho adamas empherēs esti chata tēn chroian tǭ aeri. Touton de ephorei ho archiereus hote eisērcheto eis ta Lgia tōn hagiōn. Tris de tou eniautou eisērcheto tę̄ heortę̄ tou Pascha, tēs Pentēchostę̄s, kai tēs Schēnopēgias, Ēn de cheimenos epi tou stēthous tou archiereōs hote enedidyscheto ton podērē, chai epanō tou podērous epenedyeto tēn epōmida. Katethaine de hē epōmis oligon katōteron tou stēthous. Ēn gar spithamēs chai hēmiseias to mēchos. Ech dexiōn de chai ex euōnymōn epanōthen tōn mazōn , entha dyo aspidiskoi hēsan synerrhammenoi, apę̄ōrēnto dyo smaragdoi. Eis meson de toutōn hēn hē dēlōsis, hos ēn ho dēlōtheis d adamas, tēn chroian aerixōn. Epanō de tōn hōmōn hoi dēlōthentes diydecha lithoi. Tris de, hōs eirētai, tou eniautou edēlouto tǭ laǭ dia tou petalou. Kai ei en hamartią heurethēsan, chai mē en tais entolais, has ededōchei ho Theos, etrepeto, phasin, hē chroia tou lithou, chai egeneto melas kai ech toutou eginō-
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 …