Heliotrope (mineral)

Legends and superstitions

Heliotrope was called "stone of Babylon" by Albertus Magnus and he referred to several magical properties, which were attributed to it from Late Antiquity. Pliny the Elder (1st century) mentioned first that magicians used it as a stone of invisibility. Damigeron (4th century) wrote about its property to make rain, solar eclipse, and its special virtue in divination and preserving health and youth. A Christian tradition states that the red spots come from blood falling upon the stone during the crucifixion of Jesus, as he was stabbed in the side by a Roman soldier. Ancient Roman soldiers believed that the stone had the ability to slow bleeding and wore it for this reason. In India, it is held that one can staunch the bleeding by placing upon wounds and injuries after dipping them in cold water, which may have a scientific basis in the fact that iron oxide, contained in the stone, is an effective astringent. The Gnostics wore the stone as an amulet for longevity, for wealth and courage, to strengthen the stomach, and to dispel melancholy. In the Middle Ages it was considered useful for animal husbandry. The ancient Greeks and Romans wore the stone to bring renown and favor, to bring endurance, and as a charm against the bite of venomous creatures. Greek and Roman athletes favored it as talisman for success in their games. In Scotland, the Gaels saw heliotropes as the product of an everlasting battle (seen as the aurora borealis) fought by 'the Nimble Ones,' giant faerie-folk who danced and fought in the night skies, their blood pooling into the red part of the aurora before falling in drops to the ground to form bloodstones.

Sources

True Indian bloodstone is primarily found in the Deccan Traps of India, though other rocks with red jasper in them may be found in South Africa, Western Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy, Nova Scotia, and numerous locations in the United States. There are also occurrences of bloodstone on the Isle of Rum, in Scotland.

References

• Hall, Candy A. (1994). Gem Stones. DK Publishing. .

References

1. {{cite Merriam-Webster. heliotrope
2. Albertus Magnus, ''De Mineralibus,'' II.5. in: id., ''Opera omnia,'' ed. Borgnet (Paris, 1890), vol. 5, ''Mineralia:'' pp. 1–116; on p. 36. Cf. Peter J. Barta, ''The Seal-ring of Proportion and the magic rings'' (2016), p. 50f.
3. [[Pliny the Elder]], ''Natural History'', [http://attalus.org/translate/pliny_hn37b.html#165 xxxvii.(60).165]. His account was copied verbatim by Isidore of Seville(c. 560-636), ''Etymologies,'' XVI,7,12. Cf. Peter J. Barta, ''The Seal-ring of Proportion and the magic rings'' (2016), p. 47.
4. Damigeron, ''De lapidibus'' (Abel), ch. II, p. 165, lines 1-19; Damigeron (Pitra), ch. XIX, vol. iii, p. 325-326. Cf. Peter J. Barta, ''The Seal-ring of Proportion and the magic rings'' (2016), pp. 48-49.
5. ''The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems'', by William Thomas and Kate Pavitt, [1922] p. 138
6. ''The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems'', by William Thomas and Kate Pavitt, [1922] p. 139
7. "The Nimble Men".
8. [https://www.mindat.org/min-7616.html Mindat.org]
9. "The Story of Rum National Nature Reserve".