-
The Stone Chosen to Be Written On
Shoham — the eleventh of the twelve ancient stones Most of what we say about these stones is reconstruction. We work backwards from a Greek translation, a Latin one, a…
by Roddy CarloSep 20 No comments -
The Colour That Was Reserved
Amethyst — Achlamah, the ninth of the twelve ancient stones For most of recorded history, amethyst was a precious stone. It sat with emerald, ruby and sapphire, in the short…
by Roddy CarloSep 20 No comments -
The Blue That Was Never a Sapphire
Lapis lazuli — Sappir, the fifth of the twelve ancient stones Hold a good piece of lapis under a lamp and the metallic specks scattered through it catch the light…
by Roddy CarloSep 20 No comments -
The Stone Two Traditions Cannot Agree On
Nofekh — the fourth of the twelve ancient stones Ten of the twelve stones are arguments about degree. Scholars disagree about which green, which red, which variety. This one is…
by Roddy CarloSep 20 No comments -
A Word That Means Lightning
Bareqet — the third of the twelve ancient stones Most gem names describe a colour, a place, or an owner. This one describes an event. בָּרֶקֶת — Bareqet is built…
by Roddy CarloSep 20 No comments -
The Stone Named After a Search
Peridot — Pitdah, the second of the twelve ancient stones There is a stone whose name means, more or less, keep looking. Pliny the Elder explains why. The gem came…
by Roddy CarloSep 20 No comments -
The Stone That Accepts a Name
Carnelian — ’Odem, First of the Twelve Ancient Stones You have to see wax being lifted away. The wax is softened, the seal is pressed into it, then lifted: the…
by Roddy CarloSep 11 No comments
