Christmas is coming and I wanted to remember some beautiful and entertaining biblical legend, full of secrets and mysteries. For example, talk about precious stones mentioned in the Bible. Many authors who studied the properties of stones in antiquity referred to the information contained in the Bible. Without exaggeration, these stones can be called legendary and the most valuable in terms of their qualities. In the well-known painting by Titian "The Entry of the Virgin Mary into the Temple", written in 1539 and stored in the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, on the chest of the High Priest, one can see a pectoral or pectoral with 12 precious stones - this is a gold plate that was worn on the chest with the help of a gold chains.
A tall old man with a gray beard in golden-green clothes with a golden crescent on his cap greets the God-chosen child with a blessing gesture.
Vvedensky churches in Russia are dedicated to this famous church holiday, which is celebrated by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians. But now I'm interested in a different line of events.
The breastplate (or breastplate, bib, in Hebrew - hoshen) was attached to the ephod (an element of the priest's clothing, similar to an apron) with the help of gold chains and blue cords. Sometimes it is described as a bag, sometimes as a pectoral worn around the neck. The 12 stones symbolized the 12 tribes of Israel. There is a lot of controversy about what 12 gems were included in this ancient cult jewelry, since the names of the stones in the Bible do not correspond to modern names and there are quite a few versions, interpretations and translations. This question is of interest to historians, mineralogists, and jewelers, as well as, as we shall see, writers and their readers.
The legend is this. The stones for the breastplate of the High Priest in the Temple of Jerusalem were brought as a gift to King Solomon by the Queen of Sheba. By the way, there is confusion with the temples in the painting by Titian, because if you follow the chronology from the birth of Christ - by the time Mary was a little girl, Solomon's temple had long been destroyed, and the second Jerusalem temple had not yet been built. And the breastplate, if there was one in Solomon's time, must have survived the earlier destruction of Solomon's temple. Considering that King Solomon lived in the X century. BC. this artifact should have been about 3,000 years old now. Did and could such a shrine really exist? Theoretically, of course, it could. But could such an artifact survive to this day?
High Priest Aaron. Icon 1822, from the Church of Nikolai Elagin Palace (Petersburg), since 1930 - in the Russian Museum
According to legend, after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the soldiers of Titus in 70 AD. e. napersia did not fall into the hands of the Romans. He was saved by a man named Leviticus, who was then killed by his friend who helped him. There was a punishment for svtotay, which he was not afraid of, but, nevertheless, he was afraid to leave the entire pectoral - he pulled out only the most valuable stones with which he fled to Rome. The pectoral, already without these stones, was found by a woman who fled with him to Egypt, then the artifact ends up in Venice, where, again, according to legend, it has been kept for many centuries in the Jewish quarter in Venice. This, as it were, explains the fact that Titian knew what the shrine looked like. And the picture allegedly depicts Judas Levi Abrabael (Abravanel), an intellectual and, according to legend, the keeper of the pectoral, a contemporary of Titian. The breastplate (khoshen) was depicted by another Italian artist - Romanelli (in the Vatican).
I will refer to ... a ladies' novel with detective elements, which, of course, will shock true historians. I am not a fan of ladies' novels and, probably, I would never have read "The Lame from Warsaw" by Juliette Benzoni, if I had not found at the heart of this 4-volume book (!) - a detective story about the search for stones missing from the pectoral in the spirit of Dan Brown. My excuse can be 2 points - firstly, I secretly read detective stories, which, in fact, I love and adore, and secondly, the author and her character are connoisseurs and fanatics of precious stones and, of course, I was very curious what she dug up. Since the traditional versions, in general, are known and are set out in the same Wikipedia.
According to the plot, the action of which develops on the eve of World War II, a certain Simon Aaron, who is the keeper of the sacred pectoral, tells about the legend that if you find the remaining 4 precious stones and restore the decoration, the power of the stones will play a decisive role in uniting the Jewish people and gaining their state on lands that once belonged to them. The Italian aristocrat and famous antiquary Morosini helps him with this. He acts in the novel as Sherlock Holmes, who is worn throughout Europe in search of a star sapphire (which was later considered Visigothic and was kept in his family for many centuries), the York diamond, the Sissi opal - Empress Elizabeth, the wife of the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph and the ruby of the Spanish Habsburgs . All stones carry a curse and a detective follows their bloody footprints. These famous stones did not bring happiness to their owners, as always happens with stolen shrines.
Benzoni described the pectoral as follows: a large and massive rectangular plate 30 cm long, on which 12 golden rosettes are arranged in 4 rows with large cabochons of precious stones inserted into them, completely different from the usual stones. They were placed sardonyx, topaz, dark red ruby, agate, amethyst, beryl, malachite and turquoise - the stones are perfectly matched in size and superbly polished. Lacked sapphire, diamond, opal and ruby. The ruby was repeated at Benzoni, I can't say why. Maybe a typo or translation error. Emerald and jasper, which are present in all versions, are not mentioned at all. It seems to me that in place of malachite there should be an emerald, but I will not go into it now. A chain attached on both sides made it possible to wear a pectoral around the neck. On the reverse side of each stone is engraved a very small image of the star of Solomon. True, according to a more common version, the names of the tribes of Israel (the sons of Jacob) are carved on the stones. The letters of these names made up the complete alphabet of ancient Hebrew, and when interacting with the Urim and Thummim, the letters began to flicker, forming words and sentences. True, the ancient author Flavius in the book "Antiquities of the Jews" noted that the stones ceased to radiate radiance 200 years before he wrote these lines (1 in AD)
Brief information- 12 stones are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. The first contains a description of the breastplate as an "instruction" for the robe of a priest, I would say. The breastplate contained the Urim and Thummim. Front row: ruby, topaz, emerald. In the second: carbuncle, sapphire, diamond. In the third: yahont, agate and amethyst. In the fourth: chrysolite, onyx and jasper. (Exodus, chapter 28). In the New Testament, in the book "Revelations of John the Theologian" (Apocalypse), stones are mentioned when describing the walls of "Heavenly Jerusalem" - instead of diamond, carbuncle, agate and onyx, chrysolite, chalcedony, sardonyx, chrysoprase and iacinth (hyacinth) are mentioned. The twelve gates are the twelve pearls, the streets of gold. (There is a city of gold...) There is still debate about the order of the stones - horizontally or vertically, some suggest that the true order is the perimeter - in accordance with the walls of the temple. There is a version about 12 precious stones at the base of the heavenly temple, on each of which the name of one of the apostles is written.
Kaifa - Gaft, Pontius Pilate - Kirill Lavrov in the film Bortko.
I can assume that the rules regarding stones were strict, but certain assumptions could exist. At least the stone could be more or less valuable, that is, it was possible to replace one stone with another. The basis was 12 stones known and available in Palestine. The Confidant of the High Priest is a unique shrine. Historians find many parallels between this artifact and the pectoral decorations of the Egyptians, in whom they were especially common and elevated to a cult. Symbolism and purpose are associated with the name of the Egyptian goddess of Truth, and an object with a similar purpose (U Rome and Thummim ) was worn by a judge in Egypt. There are also theories about the correspondence of 12 hoshen stones to 12 months - that is, each stone in this case will correspond to one of the signs of the zodiac. By the way, there is a modern type of ring "tabaat hoshen", which includes 12 small stones, repeating the location of the stones in the breastplate-hoshen.
Easter procession
The most interesting fact connected with the hoshen confidant, in my opinion, is that the Urim and Thummim were kept in it - divination tools, a kind of lot, "yes" and "no". Of course, the precious stones used in the decoration could not be simple decorations and even just symbols of the 12 tribes of Israel. They were supposed to play a role in ritual divination. There are versions that the Urim and Thummim were also stones, according to the radiance or fog around them, the divine will was determined. Undoubtedly, such a ritual has a more ancient origin, prophecies and predictions are characteristic of pagan cults, the echo of which is described in ancient biblical texts. Perhaps the existence of a breastplate can be considered evidence that jewelry made of stones, both ritual and personal, originally had a religious significance and connected a person with higher powers. Most likely, ancient people were convinced of this. Isn't this the secret of our love for beautiful stones? And has not this mysterious breastplate from the Temple of Jerusalem been preserved, contrary to all the laws of probability? And Juliette Benzoni did not compose this story at all, but simply retold it in a fascinating way?
You asked me, most revered (Diodorus), to make for you a brief message about the stones on the breastplate of the upper robe of the high priest, which God commanded to be attached to the chest of Aaron (Ex. 28, 15; 29, 5; sn. Lev. 8.8), about about the names, about the colors or types, about the places of these stones, about those speculations that lead to piety from them, also about which tribe each stone was placed there, about where they can be found, and where their fatherland is.
The breastplate is divided into four parts and is itself quadrangular, equal in length and width to a span. In the first row, his first stone is sardium, then topaz, and then smaragd.
In the second row, the first stone is anvrax, then sapphire and then iaspis. In the third row, the first stone is ligirium, then agate, and then amethyst. In the fourth row, the first chrysolite, then beryl and then onychius (Ex. 28, 17-20). This is the essence of the 12 stones that were hung on the upper robe of the high priest; the differences and their locations are as follows:
The first stone of Sardia is the so-called Babylonian. He looks as if fiery and the color of blood, like a salted fish sardius. Therefore, he is called a sardium, from his appearance he received a nickname. He is in Babylon, in Assyria. This stone is transparent and shiny. It also has medical power: doctors use it for tumors and other lesions that occur from iron. There is another stone (of the same kind), sardonyx, otherwise called malachite, which also softens tumors. It is the same type as the sardium, only with a green tint. It is most important at the beginning of spring, when these diseases begin.
Topaz is redder than anfrax. It is located in Topaz, the city of India, having once been found by local masons in the core of another stone. The stonemasons, seeing that it was brilliant, declared it for alabaster to some Thebans and sold it for a small price. The Thebans brought it to the queen who ruled their city at that time; and she took it and placed it on a diadem in the middle of her forehead. The following experiment is done with this stone: being erased (into powder) on a medical whetstone, it forms a liquid no longer red, according to its color, but milky (milky). After that, the rubbing agent fills as many vessels as he wants with this liquid and does not at all reduce the initial weight. This liquid formed from it helps in eye diseases.
Whoever drinks it also protects himself from dropsy; it also heals those who wither from eating sea grapes.
Smaragd stone. It is also called prasin (green). It is greenish in appearance and represents some difference between several species of it. Some call them Neronians and others Domitians. Neronian is small in appearance, very green, transparent and brilliant. They are called, they say, Neronian or Domitian for the following reason: they say that Nero or Domitian poured oil into a fair number of vessels; this oil turned green over time from the mold, and from this the stone, soldered with oil in a special abundance, received a green color. Others say that a certain Nero, an ancient artist of the lowest rank, or a stonemason made the first attempt to adapt the emerald to everyday needs, and from that very stone began to be called Neronian. Others call him Domitian. But there are others as well. The first is in Judea and is exactly like Neronian; and the other is in Ethiopia. It is said of him that he will be born in the river Pison. Pison is called the Indus by the Greeks, and the Ganges by the barbarians. Anthrax is said to be in the same river. For tamo, it is said, is anthrax and a green stone (Genesis 2:12). And the power of the stone, that is, emerald, they say, lies in the fact that it reflects the face. The fabulists also say that he is able to communicate foreknowledge.
Infra Stone. He looks crimson in color. Its deposit is Carthage, which is in Libya, called Africa. Others say that this stone can be found in this way: during the day it cannot be seen, but at night it sparkles from a distance like a lamp or burning coal and is visible from a distance. And knowing this, seekers find it easily. No matter what one wears it, one cannot hide it: because no matter what clothes it is covered with, its brilliance will certainly shine through from under the clothes. That is why it is called anfrax (coal). A bit similar to it is the keravnium stone, which some call οινωπὸν - dark red, because it resembles the color of wine. Closely similar to it is also a stone called Carthaginian, since it is located in the same place.
The sapphire stone is purple in appearance, like a snail that gives off purple dye, that is, black purple. There are many kinds of him. There is a royal one decorated with golden spots. But this one is not so amazing as the one that is all purple. One is said to be found in India and Ethiopia. Therefore, they say that the Indians have a temple to Dionysus, which has 365 steps of sapphire stone, although this seems incredible to many. This stone is amazing, very beautiful and pleasant to look at. Therefore, it is put into rings and necklaces, especially kings. It also has healing powers. For if it is rubbed into powder and mixed with milk, then it heals from ulcers that occur as a result of abscesses and nodules, if the healing places are smeared with such a mixture. It is also written in the law that the vision shown to Moses on the mountain and this legal provision was imprinted on a sapphire stone (Ex. 24, 10).
Kamen iaspis. He looks like an emerald; they find it at the mouths of the Fermodont River and near Amaphunt, a city on the island of Cyprus. But there are many genera of the so-called Amaphuntian iaspis. And the appearance of the stone is this: like an emerald, it is greenish, but dimmer and darker than it. And within its mass it has a greenishness like the rust of copper, and has veins in four rows. We have heard a lot about him of fictions transmitted by fables. But there is also another kind of this stone, bluer than the sea, more dense in color and color. Another kind of stone is found in caves on Mount Ida in Phrygia, in color, assimilated to the blood of a purple snail, but more transparent, as if likened to wine, thicker than the color of amethyst, for it is not the same color and not one and has the same power: but there is more iaspis delicate and white and not very shiny, but not without luster; and that is, like ice on water. The fabulists say that it serves as a cure for ghosts. It is found among the Iberians and Hyrcanian shepherds living on the Caspian land. Another kind of iaspis is not very shiny, green; it has lines in the middle. And another is the iaspis, the so-called ancient one, which is like either snow or sea foam. It is him, say the fabulists, that both wild beasts and ghosts are afraid of.
Ligirian stone. We have no information about finding it either from naturalists or from any of the ancients who mentioned it. We find the so-called lancurium stone, which some people call lagurium in the common language. And I think that this is a ligirium, since the Divine Scriptures change names, such as calling smaragd prasin (green). On the other hand, when naming these stones, they do not mention hyacinth, although it is a very wonderful and precious stone; so it occurred to us whether this is not the stone that the Divine Scripture calls ligirium. Hyacinth has different types. The thicker the color of this stone, the better it is than others. Hyacinth is like wool, somewhat tinted purple. Therefore, the Divine Scripture says that the priestly clothes were decorated with hyacinth and purple (Ex. 28, 5. 8, etc.). And the first stone is called sea, and the second is pink, the third is natural, the fourth is hanniy, the fifth is perilevk (whitish). It is located in the inner part of the barbarian Scythian country. Together with their high value, these stones have the following effect: if they are thrown on burning coals, they themselves do not deteriorate, but the coals are extinguished from them. But not only this, but even more: if someone, taking such a stone, wraps it in a linen and puts it on burning coals, then the very linen covering it does not ignite, but remains unharmed. It is also said that this stone helps women in childbirth, facilitating childbearing. He also has the ability to chase away ghosts.
Agate stone. Some take it for the so-called perileuc, which is understood as hyacinth. It is amazing, of a darkish color in appearance, the outer circumference is white, like marble or ivory. It is also found near Scythia. Among the stones of this kind there is also agate, which has the color of a lion's skin. When pulverized and mixed with water, it prevents harmful effects from the poison of scorpions, snakes and similar animals, if this mixture is anointed with the place bitten by the animal.
Amethyst stone. This stone in its circumference has a bright fiery color. The same circle is whiter towards the middle, emitting a dark blue color. Its appearance is different. It is also found in the mountains of Libya. Some of this kind of stones are very similar to pure hyacinth, and some to purple. It is located on the coastal heights of the same Libya.
Chrysolite stone. It has been called chrysophyll by some. It has a golden sheen. They find him in a crevice between two rocks near the wall of the Babylonian Achaemenitis. Babylon and this cleft are called Achaemenitis, they say, because the father of King Cyrus was called Achaemen. There is also chrysopast, which, being powdered and drunk with water, serves as a remedy for diseases of the stomach and abdomen.
The stone is beryl, bluish in color, like the sea, or like the weaker color of hyacinth. It is located near the top of the mountain called Taurus. If one wants to look at it against the sun, then it is like glass, having transparent grains inside. There is another beryl, very similar to the pupils of the eyes of a snake. There is also beryl, which is like wax; it is located at the source of the Euphrates River.
Onychius stone. This stone has a very yellow color. They say that the young wives of kings and rich people are especially amused by this stone, who even make glasses out of it. There are other onychites, equally named, which are like milky wax. Some say they come out of the water and harden. They are called onychites by their natural resemblance to nails, since the nail of noble people is like marble, in combination with the color of blood. Others and the marble itself, in view of testing it on the nails, are falsely called onychitis, because of the purity of the whiteness.
Notes:
Λογιον - in Slavic: a word that does not accurately convey the meaning of the Hebrew word corresponding to them, which, coming from the verb - to emit rays, means: a radiant, luminous breastplate, with the help of which, through the Urim and Thummim, the high priest questioned the Lord and gave answers, communicated revelations Lord to people (hence: Λογιον - word, saying). Ref. Number 27, 21; 1 King. 23, 9, and others. Some suggest that the very radiance of the breastplate from the stones in front of the seven-shelf enabled the high priest to recognize the will of God.
In everyday usage, it is better known under the name of carnelian.
In ancient times, one of the Indian islands, and not cities, was known with this name. See Stephen Byzant.
Pishon is a well-known paradise river described in Gen. 2, 11-12. Its location is disputed. Josephus, for example, believes that this river was the Phasis of the ancients. The rabbis considered it to be one of the tributaries of the Shat-el-Arab, near the Persian Gulf. The latter view is supported by many and the latest scientists.
Green-πράσινος. Otherwise, ruby.
The ancients represented the entire northwestern part of Africa, starting from Egypt, as a continuation of Libya, and only in the form of a more accurate designation of the most western part of it was called Africa.
Coal is also called in Greek: ανθρας.
Keraeny - from χεραυνος - lightning, sparkling with sparks, like lightning. Otherwise called keravnite.
οίνως, like οίνωπός, and means similar to wine in color, dark red.
Otherwise, - Bacchus, Bacchus.
In St. Scripture speaks of the fact that the place where the God of Israel stood, after the first legislation on Mount Sinai, was like the work of a sapphire stone.
Otherwise, - jasper.
In Asia Minor, in Cappadocia. There was also a small river of the same name in Boeotia, in mainland Greece.
In Asia Minor.
Inhabitants of Iberia. In ancient times, both Spain and Georgia were called Iberia. Here, Georgia is most likely to be understood, since the further mentioned Hyrcania also lay near the Caspian Sea.
According to some, this is a genus of amber, and according to others, hyacinth. The latter, in accordance with the assumption of St. Epiphany.
Similar to khana - a kind of sea fish with a huge mouth.
Ancient Scythia occupied the southern regions of Russia from the Danube to the Don.
Unknown type of gem.
Name: chrysophyll does not occur. It is probably necessary to read: Chrysoberyl is Babylonian, which will also be in accordance with its location, which is indicated by St. Epiphany. But in both cases, the distinguishing feature of the stone is its golden (χρύσεος) ebb.
That is, dotted with golden dots.
Mountain in Judea, near Jericho.
Onychius, onychite and onyx, according to word formation, have the same root (ονυχ) with the Greek name for a nail.
Precious Stones in the Bible . Precious stones are those minerals whose distinguishing features are hardness, transparency, brilliance and pleasant color, and which are used in the preparation of expensive jewelry. Precious stones do not lie in the bowels of the earth in vast and massive layers, but are interspersed or included in various rocks in the form of small grains, veinlets, small fragments of stones. All of them in general have a crystalline structure, otherwise they appear to the observer in the form of polyhedral bodies that have certain geometric shapes. Precious stones are rare and not in all countries, which greatly elevates their value. Since there are relatively few stones with the above-mentioned features, but the need for them for various decorations has always been great, then, along with precious stones, stones with one or more of the named properties have long been used. These latter are commonly referred to as semi-precious or expensive stones. When determining which of the precious porridge is in front of the researcher, as well as when distinguishing these stones from one another, in cases of their external similarity to each other, they mainly pay attention to their hardness, specific gravity and chemical composition. 1) Of two bodies, the one that draws or cuts the other is harder. To determine the hardness, a number of known bodies (ten in number) are selected, arranged in order of their hardness, and the weakest of them (talc) is designated by the number "1", the hardest (diamond) - by the number "10". If it is necessary to test any stone regarding its hardness, then the named bodies are drawn or cut with it, starting with No. 1. On weaker ones, the test stone leaves a line. Now, if on good steel, the hardness of which is "6", is not a line from the test stone, then you need to draw with steel on the stone; if a line is obtained on a stone, then the stone has a hardness between five and six (5-6). If the stone does not cut steel and the steel does not cut stone, then their hardness is the same and the hardness of the tested stone is “6”. The hardness of precious and expensive stones mentioned in the Bible fluctuates between 6th and 10th. 2) When determining the specific gravity, the test stone is weighed on a balance; let's say it weighs 30 pieces of gold. Then the same piece of stone is tied on a thread to a cup of scales and lowered into a substituted vessel with water so that the cup does not touch the water. Now the stone weighs less - let's say - 20 spools; therefore, he loses 10 spools in water. Dividing by this remainder the weight of the stone in the air, i.e. 30 by 10, we get 3. This figure (3) will denote the specific gravity of the stone. A different grade of stone will have a different specific gravity. The specific weight of precious and semi-precious stones named in the Bible is determined by numbers from 2.5 to 4. 3) As for the chemical composition, each stone has its own, only peculiar to it, composition; thus, diamond consists of pure carbon, amethyst is a modification of quartz, beryl contains oxides of two metals: beryllium and aluminum, etc. In the following description of the precious and expensive stones mentioned in the Bible, we will no longer touch, for a few except for their hardness and specific gravity.
Jews from the most ancient times got acquainted with precious and semi-precious stones, have long been accustomed to delight their gaze with their brilliance and play of their colors. Precious stones have never been found in Palestine; therefore, they were received here from other, foreign countries, sometimes in the form of gifts () and spoils of war (), but mainly by purchase, through Arab, especially Phoenician merchants (Ezek. 27, 22). Precious stones in Palestine were directly received only under Solomon at a time when the ships of this king went, together with the Phoenician ships, to Ophir and delivered various kinds of rarities from there (.). As objects of high value, precious stones were collected by the Jewish kings and kept in treasuries, along with gold. So, David collected them as material for the future Jerusalem temple (); likewise they were placed in the treasury of King Hezekiah (). Precious stones were used by the Jews for all kinds of decorations. They decorated the liturgical vestments of the high priest (. I.); they were inserted into golden vessels (); Solomon overlaid with “expensive stones for beauty” the inner walls of the temple he built (). Using precious stones for jewelry, the Jews followed the example of neighboring countries, where the named stones could be seen on royal clothes (Ezek. 28, 13.), in royal crowns () and on many other items (.). Then precious stones were used by the Jews for the preparation of seals, and the stones with seals carved on them were set into gold (I.). It should be noted that the art of polishing precious stones, engraving on them and dressing them in gold (inserting into “nests”) was taken out by the Jews from Egypt; at least, when the tabernacle was arranged in the wilderness, among the Jews there were already persons skilled in carving on stones (). The works of ancient Jewish engravers were distinguished by their variety and elegance of forms (I.).
Precious stones are named and listed in the biblical text several times, namely: when describing the “breastplate of judgment”; Ezek. 28, 13, when referring to the extreme luxury in the clothes of the king of Tyre, and, when depicting heavenly Jerusalem, which was contemplated in the vision of St. John the Evangelist. Moreover, some precious stones are named in other places in the Bible, for example,. P. et al. - Precious and semi-precious stones mentioned in the Bible, we will name and describe in alphabetical order.
Agate is a mixture or alloy of various modifications of quartz, such as jasper, amethyst, chalcedony, etc. All these modifications, when combined in pieces of agate, do not lose their color, but are located in them in separate, different colors, layers, and they go either in straight, parallel stripes , or broken lines, or take the form of various objects, for example, clouds. Due to the unequal number of multi-colored bands, their different distribution and different shapes in pieces of agate, there are a lot of varieties of the latter - up to twenty. Agate is an opaque, cloudy, jelly-like stone and belongs to the semi-precious stones. Comparatively highly valued are agates with images located inside their mass and resembling figures of animals or plants. Agates of the last variety, that is, containing, as it were, images of small bushes, tree branches, are called dendrites (from δένδρον - tree). Such images, which have a black, brown or reddish color, originated inside agate masses from metallic solutions of iron or manganese, more precisely, from crystals of these solutions. Agate (lat. Ahates) got its name, according to Pliny, from the river Ahates in Sicily, where it was mined in ancient times. Locations of agate: Italy, Germany, Arabia, Syria, Urals, Upper Egypt, Brazil, etc. The Hebrew name for agate is schebo, LXX - ἀχάτης. In the Bible, agate is named among those 12 precious stones with which the "breastplate of judgment" was adorned; the latter was part of the vestments of the Old Testament high priest, and on it the precious stones were arranged in four rows of three stones in each, with agate taking the second place in the third row. On each of the stones was carved, as on a seal, one name from among those names by which the twelve tribes of Israel were designated ().
Diamond(Heb. jahalom) - the most famous stone, ranking first in the series of precious stones for its extreme hardness and high value. According to its chemical composition, it is the purest carbon and can burn. The appearance of a raw, rough diamond is not attractive. The surface of its crystals extracted from the earth is mostly rough and covered with a fissured translucent bark of lead-gray sheen. But a well-polished diamond, which is called a diamond, is amazing in its beauty: with its transparency and strong radiant brilliance, it leaves all other precious stones far behind. A polished diamond is completely colorless; but there are yellowish, greenish, bluish and pink diamonds; pink and bluish are valued more than others. In the Russian translation of the Bible, the word “diamond” conveys the Hebrew name jahalom, in accordance with the understanding of the ancient Jewish rabbis (Keil u. Delitzsch, Commentar I, 1, 2 Aufl. 8. 531–532), which was also followed by Luther. In LXX, the Hebrew word jahalom is conveyed by the saying - ἴασπις, and in Ezek. 28, 13 - by the saying σμάραγδος. It follows from this that already in antiquity the exact meaning of the word jahalom ceased to be known. The latter circumstance serves as a reason for modern scholars to assume that jahalom does not mean a diamond, but some other stone that is more convenient for engraving. In the Russian translation of the Bible, the word "diamond" conveys, in addition to "jahalom", another Jewish saying schamir. Ezek. 3, 9. It can be seen from the first quotation that small fragments or crystals of diamond were inserted into metal pens, with a sharp end up, and served as a cutter when engraving; from Ezek. 3, 9 it is clear that the ancient Jews considered the diamond to be the hardest body in nature. The diamond (jahalom) on the "breastplate of the vessel" ranked third in the second row of precious stones (); at Ezekiel Ave. (28, 13) the diamond is named among the jewels. The name "diamond" is of oriental origin.
Amethyst- a transparent modification of quartz, similar to rock crystal (see "Crystal"), but lilac or violet. However, the main purple color is found in amethyst crystals with various shades: there are amethysts of light purple, dark purple, reddish purple, etc.; light blue amethysts are also known, but they are rare. Moreover, such amethysts are found, in the mass of which needle-like crystals of brown iron ore are enclosed. Locations of amethyst: Tyrol, Cyprus, Ural, Daylon, Brazil, etc.; in ancient times it was obtained from India, Arabia and Egypt. – Amethyst is recognized as one of the most beautiful stones and highly valued. It is found in small, with rare exceptions, crystals. The ancients attributed to amethyst the power that protects against drunkenness; hence its Greek name ἀμέθυστος (α – particle of negation, μεθύω – I am drunk). Its Hebrew name is achlamah. In the biblical text, amethyst is named several times, namely:. Ezek. 28, 13 (according to the translation of LXX and Slavic), . On the "breastplate of the vessel" amethyst occupied the third place in the third row.
Beryl there is a modification of the emerald. Its composition includes, among other things, oxides of the metals beryllium and aluminum. It is transparent, except for the lower grades; the latter are cloudy. Beryls are found in a wide variety of colors - from thick asparagus, green, blue, white, golden to dirty pinkish. Sea water colored beryl is called aquamarine. Locations of beryl: Ural, China, India, Egypt, Brazil; the ancients received it chiefly from India. In the Russian biblical text, beryl is named only once: (“viryl”). The Greek name for the stone is Βήρυλλος.
Hyacinth- a brilliant transparent stone. It consists of an oxide of a special metal - zircon (which is why it is also called zircon) and silica. Its color is orange of various shades and brown; also found colorless. Locations: France, Prussia, Daylon, Austindia, Abyssinia, etc.; it is found, for the most part, in small crystals. Hyacinth is mentioned in the Bible once: ; its Greek name is ὑάκινθος.
Emerald- one of the first-class gemstones, brilliant, deep green in color and perfectly transparent. The chemical composition of emerald is similar to that of beryl (see Mendeleev Chemistry, 6th ed., pp. 427–428). Locations: Ural, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, etc. The completely green, unusually eye-pleasing color of the emerald depends on the fact that chromium oxide is mixed with its main components, in small proportions. The Hebrew name for this stone is bareketh, indicating its brilliance (from barak, to shine), Arabic. - tsamarud, Greek. - σμάραγδος (from ἀμαρύσσω - I shine), Slavic. - emerald. - On the “breastplate of the vessel”, the emerald took third place in the first row (); further, an emerald is mentioned by Ezek. 28, 13. . . . . It should be noted that in the Russian (synod.) translation of the Bible, the name "emerald" is used only in those places where the Hebrew bareketh is placed, that is, in books translated from Hebrew; in the books translated from Greek, the Greek name of the emerald σμάραγδος is left without translation and is conveyed by the saying smaragd (. .), with the exception of where instead of “σμάραγδος” there is “emerald” in Russian.
Carbuncle is one of the types grenade. Pomegranate or venisya there is, in most cases, a transparent stone with a strong vitreous luster. Its composition, among other things, includes silicon, aluminum, manganese, iron in combination with oxygen. Locations: Ural, Ostindia, Ceylon, Ethiopia and some. etc. Pomegranate is found in various colors and, depending on the color, has various names. Yes, the title essonite or brown stone assimilate a brown grenade, grossular- an apple-green pomegranate, then a bluish-red, cherry red, raspberry red pomegranate is called almandine; finally, a blood-red pomegranate with a fiery tint (due to a significant admixture of iron), occupying the first place in beauty among pomegranate varieties, is known under the name or pyrope, or anthrax, or carbuncle. The Hebrew name for the carbuncle is nophekh, for LXX it is ἄνθαξ. The carbuncle occupied the first place in the second row on the “breastplate” (); further this stone is called Ezek. 27, 16. 28, 13. . In the last quote, Greek ἄνθραξ ; left in the Russian text of the Bible without translation: anthrax.
Onyx(Heb. schoham) belongs to the group of agates and is an alternation of layers of pink with white layers, which makes it somewhat similar to a “nail lying on the body”. Hence its Greek name ὄνυξ, which means "nail". Multi-colored layers of real onyx (of which there are more than two) are arranged in rather wide strips that always run straight and parallel. Layers in some types of this stone are also black, as, for example, in Arabian onyx, which is also called black ribbon agate. Locations Arabia, India, Egypt, Brazil and others. The ancient Jews believed that onyxes were mined mainly in the now unknown country of Havila (). Among the offerings for religious purposes from well-meaning givers, Moses ordered to accept, among other things, onyx with other stones for the sacred robes of the high priest (). Then, from onyxes, two stones were approved on the amice of the high priest's ephod and one on the “breastplate”, where it occupied the second place in the fourth row of precious stones (). The names of the tribes of Israel were carved on two “onyx” stones, intended for amices, on each stone there were six names (). U and Ezek. 28, 13 onyx is mentioned among the jewels and in Job is directly called precious; in the latter case, probably, “Arabian onyx” was meant, which, of all types of onyx, was and is valued especially highly. However, it should be noted that onyx is classified as a semi-precious stone.
Ruby and sapphire. These stones are the essence of modification corundum or the so-called yacht. None of the precious stones has such a variety of colors as corundum. It is found in white, red, blue, green, yellow, and other colors, and it can also be completely colorless. The chemical composition of colorless corundum is pure alumina, but in its colored specimens there are traces of iron, manganese and other impurities, which determine the colors of these stones. Locations of corundum: Africa, India, Ceylon, Orenburg and Perm provinces. and others. Of the colored corundum, red and blue are especially highly valued. The blood-red and carmine-red corundums are called rubies or red yachts and are considered even more expensive than diamonds; blue corundum is known by the name sapphires or blue yachts. - Ruby was first in the first row, sapphire was second in the second row. precious stones on the "breastplate of the judgment" (). Then the ruby and sapphire, as jewels of high value, are called in the following places of the Bible: . Isa. 54, 11. . Ezek. 1, 26. 27, 16. 28, 13. . P. . . . In and at Ezek. 1, 26 you can see an indication of the blue color and brilliance of sapphire. The Hebrew name for the ruby is 'odem, for the sapphire - sarri, in LXX and in Slavyansk. - ruby - σάρδιον, sardium, sapphire - σάπφειρος, sapphire. Greek ἄνθραξ; at I. in Russian. the biblical text corresponds to the word "ruby". – Saying corundum there is a modification of the eastern words corind, corindu (corind, corindou), used in India and China to name some varieties of corundum or yahonta (Shcheglov); the Hebrew 'odem and the Latin root ruby indicate the red color of the stone they designate, Heb. sapir - to blue.
Sardonyx mentioned; it belongs to the group of agates. This stone is nothing but an onyx with white and orange or reddish stripes. In antiquity, sardonyxes, if only the multi-colored layers lay in them correctly, were valued almost equally with sapphires. In ancient times, they were obtained from India and Ethiopia. Sardonite(Greek σαρθόνιξ) - Sardinian onyx, the actual meaning of this name has not been clarified.
Cornelian(Greek σάρδιον) is named. Carnelian - the name of eastern origin (Pylyaev); what exactly it points to is not known with accuracy (see below “Chalcedon”).
Emerald(see "Emerald").
Topaz. Topaz contains clay, silicon and sec in combination with oxygen. Topaz is less hard than diamond, but equal in weight to it; it has a strong vitreous luster; its colors are white, wine-yellow, brownish-yellow or green. Transparent topaz is called noble, opaque - ordinary. In ancient times, topaz was mined on one of the islands of the Red Sea, where the Egyptian pharaohs had special mines for this, as well as in India and Ethiopia; at present it is found in Siberia (where it is called "heavyweight"), in Saxony, Brazil and some other countries. Topaz is mentioned (on the "breastplate" - the second place of the first row), Ezek. 28, 13. ("Ethiopian topaz"). . The Hebrew name for topaz is pitedah, referring to its yellow color. The origin and meaning of the name "topaz" has not been determined.
Chalcedon. Chalcedons or chalcedony called colored quartz, known since ancient times. “They were formed from quartz dissolved in water, which becomes soluble when the rocks gradually break down under the influence of air.” Chalcedons belong to the group of agates. They are cloudy, like jelly, of various, but not bright colors. On sale, meat-colored or red chalcedons are especially valued ( cornelian or carnelian), apple green ( chrysoprase), with stripes or layers of red and white ( onyx), greyish-blue. Chalcedon is mentioned. The name of the stone "chalcedon" comes from the Asia Minor city of Chalcedon, from where, by the way, this stone was sent for sale. Locations: Arabia, Ural, etc. Chalcedon belongs to the number of semi-precious stones.
Chrysolite(χρυσός - gold, λίθος - stone) - a transparent stone of yellowish-green or pure yellow color with a strong luster. It contains magnesium and silicon. Locations: Egypt, Daylon, Siberia, etc. Mentioned: (on the "breastplate" - the first place of the fourth row). Ezek. 28, 13. . The Hebrew name for chrysolite - tarschisch indicates the place from where, by the way, the stone was delivered by merchants. The word tarschisch is also used by Ezek. 1, 16. 10, 9. P., but here the Russian translators rendered this Hebrew word with the word "topaz".
Chrysopras mention . The Greek name χρυσόπρασος (from χρισός - gold πράσον, - leek - plant) indicates the color of the stone (see "Chalcedon": column 218 -).
Jaspis(Hebrew jaschpheh, Greek ἴασπις): jasper or jasper quartz. Jasper is completely opaque, does not shine through even at the edges. According to the flowers and the arrangement of flowers, the types of jasper are extremely diverse. In addition to the single-color jasper of yellow, brown, red and green, there are still many varieties of multi-colored jasper, which are: brown with light irregularly located (crooked) stripes, red with yellow veins, white with thin veins of red-carmine color, etc. Jasper accepts pretty shiny finish. In ancient times, jasper was found convenient for engraving. Locations: Egypt, Siberia and other countries. Jasper, or jasper, is mentioned (on the "breastplate" - the third place of the fourth row). Ezek. 28, 13. . One might think that, of course, not jasper, but some other crystal-like stone.
Yakhont mentioned in the Russian translation of the Bible (on the "breastplate" - the first place of the third row). The word "yahont" in the original Hebrew text corresponds to the saying leschem (from lascham - to attract), in LXX - λιγύριον, Vulg. - ligurius (originating, obtained from Liguria). Yakhont there is a collective name used to designate varieties of corundum, which are usually recognized as separate stones and have special names (see "Ruby and Sapphire": st. 216 -). It may very well be that in the places cited in the book. Exodus, of course, some beautiful variety of corundum, not named elsewhere in the Bible, for example, oriental girazole, translucent, milky-colored stone, similar to a noble disgrace emitting reddish, or yellowish, or bluish rays. The name "yahont" is probably of eastern origin: "yagut" or "yakut" is the Persian name for the ruby.
Pearl. When listing and describing the precious stones mentioned in the Bible, it is appropriate to provide information about pearls. True, pearls do not belong to minerals, they are a substance of organic, animal origin; but the Bible calls it, along with precious stones, as an object of high dignity, serving, like stones, for ornaments of various kinds. Pearl is the product of those animals that are called soft-bodied, otherwise slugs or shellfish (Mollusca), belong to the class laminabranchial or bivalves (Lamellibranchiata siya Vivaliae), to the detachment of heteromuscular (Heteromya), to the family pearl oysters (Avicuacca), to the mind pearl oysters (Maleagrina margaritifera). The headless mollusk of the barley pearl oyster is enclosed in a bivalve shell, the lateral valves of which, right and left, appear to be the same in appearance - rounded four-sided, having a leafy structure, greenish-brown in color with longitudinal white stripes. These flaps in the upper, dorsal, part are connected to each other by means of a special elastic mass, the so-called ligament, and consist of three layers of different structures, and in pearl pearl oysters, the inner mother-of-pearl layer is the most thickened. The outer part of the body of the mollusk, called the mantle or epanche, consists of two lobes connected at the back and representing a thickening of the skin, especially when connected. These blades form a cavity in which, on each side, there are two leaf-shaped gills of the animal, separated by a muscular wedge-shaped leg adapted for movement and protruding, as needed, from the lower part of the valves. The lobes of epancha with their upper mucous layer directly adjoin the shell valves and are attached to them by closing, not equally developed muscles that run from one valve to another across the body of the mollusk and serve to bring the valves closer to each other by free lower edges.
The ancients considered pearls a jewel of the highest dignity and loved to adorn them, which is especially true of the Romans. Wealthy Roman women adorned their heads with pearls, wore pearl earrings, necklaces, rings, and even shoes studded with pearls. Roman women were not left without imitators in other areas of the empire (). Pearls were undoubtedly known to the Jews as well. At least he, at the time of Christ the Savior, was very common in Palestine ().
In order to satisfy the constant and significant demand for pearls, then there were merchants among the Palestinian Jews who were exclusively engaged in the trade in pearls, and did not stop even at extraordinary costs, trying to acquire, among other things, large, and therefore rare and very expensive pearls (); it means that at the time of Christ, in Palestine there was a demand for such jewelry (cf. references to pearls). It can also be assumed with certainty that pearls were also used by the Jews in Old Testament times; but there are no direct and definite, unquestionable indications of this in the writings of the Old Testament. True, in the Russian (synod.) translation of the Old Testament. Bible, namely in the book. Proverbs (8, 10. 20, 15. 31, 10) in a word pearl Hebrew saying peninim. But under this saying, scholars of the Hebrew text of the Bible (for example, Delitzsch) tend to understand rather coral, than pearl. It is possible, however, that the ancient Hebrews, by the word peninim, denoted both coral and pearls, taking into account their identical, marine origin; but where exactly in the original old-fashioned. In the text peninim means pearl, it is impossible to determine: here only guesses are possible, always unfounded, hesitant, and therefore having no positive value. Russian (synod.) translators also discovered a similar vacillation in this case. They didn't translate everywhere pearl Jewish peninim. So, for example, peninim(at the end of the verse) they conveyed by the expression rubies, and the word pearl(at the beginning of the same verse) put instead of Heb. gabisch, which means ( Gesenins, Delitzsch) crystal (Schenkel, Richm, Guthë,Perlen").
Russian name pearl correspond: Arabic - zenchug, Greek - margarite (μαργαρίτης), German - Perlen. The old Russian name for large pearls is Burmic grain, small - kafim grain, i.e., grain brought from the city of Kafa (now Feodosia); old Russian expression pitched pearl means - pearls are round, rolling, i.e. the best pearls ( Pylyaev, Gems, pp. 3 231–233).
Prot. P. Olivet
12 bible stones
The first decorations that reached us on the pages of literary works are biblical stones. They are mentioned in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. The oldest original scripture can be attributed to 1500 BC. It is there that it is told that the High Priest, who was a follower of Jehovah and brought worship, had in his everyday life a breastplate, which was a bag made of linen. The bag was framed with precious stones. Their number was twelve. It is these gemstones that are called biblical stones. They were of the most varied shape and color, and were executed in gold frames.
The Bible (Exodus, chapter 28) says:
28.17. And set stones in it in four rows. Next: ruby, topaz, emerald - this is the first row.
28. 18. Second row: carbuncle, sapphire and diamond.
28. 19. Third row: yahont, agate and amethyst.
28. 20. Fourth row: chrysolite, onyx and jasper. They should be inserted into golden nests.
28:21 These stones must be twelve, according to the number of the children of Israel, according to their names; on each, as on a seal, one name from among the twelve tribes should be carved.
The thimble had various names and was referred to as a thimble, breastplate or hoshen in Hebrew. It was attached to the priest's apron, called an ephod, with gold chains and blue cords. Sometimes in the scriptures a bag was called a confidant, which, like a pectoral, was worn around the neck. The breastplate on the front side was decorated with 12 stones, which symbolized the 12 tribes of Israel and were fastened in a certain order: three stones in four rows.
1st row - ruby, topaz and emerald;
2nd row - carbuncle, sapphire and diamond;
3rd row - yahont, agate and amethyst;
4th row - chrysolite, onyx and jasper.
The cuma was made of colored wool with gold thread. The breastplate was intended for wearing the Urim (light) and Thumim (perfection), which were symbols by which the hierarch consulted with the Almighty on the life of the people of Israel. They were tools of divination, a kind of yes or no answer.
The Bible says that God, who told the people the laws and commandments, urgently commanded Moses to make a tabernacle at Mount Sinai, which was a special place for performing rituals and sacraments. Here were the ark of the covenant, the altar for incense, the table for offering bread, the lamp - the menorah. It was then that it was ordered to make clothes for the high priest Aaron, which included the famous scrip.
There is an opinion that the gems symbolized the spiritual unity of the people of Israel. In his Antiquities of the Jews, Flavius Josephus makes two remarkable remarks about stones. In the sanctuary, in the presence of God, the sardonyx "began to sparkle especially strongly with such a bright light as it usually does not have, and the 12 stones on the chest with brilliance and radiance announced the coming victory when the Israelites were going to war." And the second reflection of my thoughts, with regards to the clothes of the high priest, is that the sardonyx that decorated the clasps is comparable to the Sun and the Moon, and the stones on it with 12 months of the year, or as described in the book "groups of stars, which the Greeks call the Zodiac."
The value of the gems that bordered the breastplate was very great. One of the writings described the order of the Jews in the desert during the Exodus from Egypt. A string of “up to six hundred thousand foot men, except children” was strictly located in clans “with their banner and signs of families” headed by the patriarch, each of whom had his own special banner, the color of which strictly corresponded to the shade of the stone on the breastplate that bore his name.
The history of the breastplate after the collapse of the empire of Rome is currently unknown. There is only speculation that the breastplate was moved to the East after the capture and sack of Jerusalem in the 7th century by the Mohammedans. It is also possible that at the moment it is kept in the treasury of the descendants of warlike Persians.
The sacred writings indicate the ancient names of the stones. Let's look at their modern terminology:
Viryll is a greenish-yellow beryl.
- Iakinf - hyacinth (zircon, its precious variety).
- Karbupkul - red garnet (pyrope or almandine).
- Sardonyx - dark red onyx or in other words chalcedony.
- Chalcedon - chalcedony.
- Jasper - red jasper (there are different versions that say that jasper could be green).
- Yakhont - ruby (red corundum).
But the above names cannot be given the final result, since in ancient times the main differences were color and hardness, and often minerals of different types were hidden under one name, at the same time, stones of the same mineral were attributed to different names.
The first jewelry, namely biblical stones, are mentioned in the Bible of both the Old and New Testaments. It is there that it is told that the High Priest, who was a follower of Jehovah and brought worship, had in his everyday life a breastplate, which is a quadrangular breastplate (pectoral) - a bag made of linen. The breastplate was framed with precious stones. Their number was twelve. It is these stones that are called biblical stones. They were of the most varied shape and color, and were executed in gold frames.
The Bible (Exodus, chapter 28) says:
28.17. And set stones in it in four rows. Next: ruby, topaz, emerald - this is the first row.
28. 18. Second row: carbuncle, sapphire and diamond.
28. 19. Third row: yahont, agate and amethyst.
28. 20. Fourth row: chrysolite, onyx and jasper. They should be inserted into golden sockets.
28:21 These stones must be twelve, according to the number of the children of Israel, according to their names; on each, as on a seal, one name from among the twelve tribes should be carved.
The thimble had various names and was referred to as a thimble, breastplate or hoshen in Hebrew. It was attached to the priest's apron, called an ephod, with gold chains and blue cords. The breastplate on the front side was decorated with 12 stones, which symbolized the 12 tribes of Israel and were fastened in a certain order: three stones in four rows.
1st row - ruby, topaz and emerald;
2nd row - carbuncle, sapphire and diamond;
3rd row - yahont, agate and amethyst;
4th row - chrysolite, onyx and jasper.
The bag was made of colored wool with gold thread. The breastplate was designed to carry the Urim (light) and Thumim (perfection), which were symbols by which the high priest consulted with the Almighty on the life of the people of Israel. The Bible does not describe the "Urim and Thummim" themselves, nor how they were used, but it is assumed that they were used to light the letters on the breastplate's precious stones, forming the words of God's answer to the high priest.
The Bible says that God, who told the people the laws and commandments, urgently commanded Moses to make a tabernacle at Mount Sinai, which was a special place for performing rituals and sacraments. Here were the ark of the covenant, the altar for incense, the table for offering bread, the lamp - the menorah. It was then that it was ordered to make clothes for the high priest Aaron, which included the famous breastplate.
It was also called the “breastplate of judgment” (Ex. 28:15), perhaps because the high priest wore it on his chest, such a high person who was supposed to serve as a source of truth and judgment and whose decisions, by Divine inspiration, should always be clear are just and obligatory for the Jews.
The list of twelve stones is also mentioned in the New Testament, in the book "The Revelation of John the Theologian" when describing the walls of Heavenly Jerusalem. These are the same stones, however, in the Russian Synadolian translation, the names differ from the stones that adorned the high priest's breastplate; instead of diamond, carbuncle, agate and onyx, chrysolite, chalcedony, sardonyx, chrysoprase and hyacinth (iacinth) appear here:
The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all sorts of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedon, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth virill, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate was made of one pearl. The street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass. (Rev. 21:19-21).
Since Talmudic times, translators and commentators of the Bible have tried to determine what kind of stones they are. Of the Jewish commentators on the book of Exodus, R. Bahya ben Asher discusses this subject in detail. The following is a list of the names of precious stones mentioned in the Bible, with their meaning, as far as it can be approximately established on the basis of tradition and biblical translations. The research is based on the analysis of names, on archaeological evidence regarding the use of precious and semi-precious stones as ornaments, and on ancient translations and commentaries. All these designations define, of course, only those ideas that existed about these names at a certain time and in a certain environment, without, however, certifying their complete identity with the concepts of ancient times.
The only one from the list of 12 stones that can be identified with a known mineral based on the name is yashfe (jasper).
|
Bible |
transliteration |
Synodal |
Jewish |
inscription |
|
clothes |
||||
|
פִּטְדָה |
pitda |
topaz (chrysolite) |
||
|
בָּרֶקֶת |
barequet |
|||
|
nofeh |
carbuncle |
ruby or garnet |
||
|
sapphire |
||||
|
yahalom |
diamond or onyx |
|||
|
goblin |
hyacinth, some opal |
|||
|
אַחְלָמָה |
akhlama |
|||
|
תַּרְשִׁישׁ |
tarshish |
chrysolite (chrysolite) |
chrysolite or turquoise, beryl or light green topaz |
|
|
shoham |
onyx or sardonyx |
|||
|
יָשְׁפֶה |
yashfe |
jasper (jasper) |
In modern mineralogical terminology, biblical stones correspond to:
Carbuncle - red garnet (pyrope or almandine).
Yakhont - ruby (red corundum).
Jasper - red (according to other sources - green) jasper.
Virill is a greenish-yellow beryl.
Iakinf - hyacinth (zircon, precious variety).
Chalcedon is chalcedony.
Sardonyx is a dark red chalcedonic (heart) onyx.