Lapidary (text) facts for kids
A lapidary is like an old book or text that describes different kinds of precious and semi-precious stones. It talks about what these stones look like, where they come from, and what special powers or uses people believed they had.
In the Middle Ages, these books were very popular. Many people believed that gems could protect them or even help them heal. Rich people loved collecting jewels, not just for beauty, but also as a way to store their wealth.
Scholars in the Middle Ages often saw three main types of lapidaries:
- Scientific lapidaries: These focused on the physical features of stones.
- Magical or astrological lapidaries: These linked stones to the Signs of the zodiac and planets.
- Christian lapidaries: These explained the religious meaning of gems mentioned in the Bible.
Lapidaries were often found alongside "herbals" (books about plants and their uses) or as part of larger encyclopedia-like works. People strongly believed that certain jewels could protect them from diseases or other dangers.
Back then, people didn't know as much about geology as we do today. It was hard for them to tell the difference between stones that looked similar or even the same stone found in different colors. What they called "stones" also included things we now know are metals, like cinnabar and hematite. They also included organic things like pearls, coral, and amber.
The idea of lapidaries wasn't just in Europe. There were similar traditions in the Islamic world and East Asia.
Contents
Ancient Stone Books
The idea of writing about stones goes way back to ancient Mesopotamia. One of the earliest known books is called Abnu šikinšu.
A Greek writer named Theophrastus (who lived around 287 BC) wrote about rocks, minerals, and gems. His work was very important, even though people in Europe didn't know about it until much later. He tried to describe minerals in a way that was closer to modern mineralogy.
Another important ancient writer was Pliny the Elder. His book, Natural History, from the 1st century AD, had a whole section on gems. Many medieval lapidaries were based on his writings.
Most of the ancient lapidaries are now lost. But hundreds of different medieval texts exist. Many of these were copied, translated, and changed from older sources.
Gem Powers and Healing
Medieval lapidaries described many protective and healing powers for different gemstones. These included well-known gems like diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, and rubys. Some "stones" were actually metals like cinnabar or magnetite. Things like coral and pearl were also included, as were fossilized items like amber.
People believed that carrying a diamond could keep you healthy, help people with mental illness, and protect you from wild animals or poison. Diamonds and corals were also thought to scare away bad dreams and evil spirits.
Emeralds were believed to protect against evil spirits and poisons. Sapphires were considered the "fairest of all precious stones." They were thought to help with cholera, stomach problems, and heart issues. Rubies were believed to warn their owner of danger or illness by changing color. For example, a ruby might turn dark if danger was near.
Coral was very important for medicine, especially for babies. People believed that giving a newborn baby a tiny bit of coral powder mixed with mother's milk could protect them from epilepsy. Apothecaries (like pharmacists) also suggested ground coral in water to help with sadness.
Pearls, coral, and amber were often grouped as "Belonging to the Sea." They were linked to women's health issues. Pearls were seen as perfect and pure. They were valued for helping with heart problems and fertility. Some lapidaries said pearls and corals could purify the blood. Amber was thought to help with coughs and spitting blood.
Another old book, De Materia Medica, described how to use hematite and calamine for medicine. Hematite was used for eye problems and skin issues. Calamine was used for healing ulcers when applied to the skin.
One interesting "gem" mentioned in almost every medieval lapidary was lyngurium. People believed it was formed from the solidified urine of a lynx! This idea slowly disappeared by the 17th century.
Medicine from Stones
Just as plants were used for medicine, people in ancient and medieval times thought minerals also had healing powers. Even today, some medicines come from minerals.
Thomas Aquinas, a very important thinker in the Middle Ages, believed that God created everything in nature for the benefit of humans. This made Christians expect to find useful properties in all materials, including stones.
The most common way to use stones for medicine was to wear them as jewelry, like in a ring or necklace. People thought that direct contact between the gem and the skin helped transfer its healing powers.
Other ways included making ointments with ground stones or taking ground stone powder mixed with water or other ingredients. For example, people believed that just looking at an emerald could help heal eye problems.
Christian Meanings
Some lapidaries focused on the religious meanings of gems mentioned in the Bible. Two important sets of stones were described:
- The twelve jewels on the Priestly breastplate in the Book of Exodus.
- The twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation.
These stones had been given symbolic meanings by important religious figures like Saints Jerome and Augustine. Different ideas also linked stones to specific saints, types of angels, and other parts of Christianity.
Stones and Stars
Another type of lapidary dealt with the connections between gems and astrology. One of the largest was the Lapidary of Alfonso X, also known as "Alfonso the Learned," who was King of Castile from 1252 to 1284. This book was put together by other writers, mostly Muslim scholars.
It explained how different stones were linked to the Signs of the Zodiac and the planets. People believed that the healing and magical powers of stones changed depending on the movements of the stars and planets that controlled them.
Images for kids
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Title page of a printed lapidary by Conrad Gessner of 1565
See also
In Spanish: Lapidario para niños
