gems, early lapidaries, early gemology, early mineralogy, Chaucer, history of gemology, nomenclature, lore, medicinal use

Chaucer's corones tweyne" of Troilus, II, 1935 has been variously interpreted as the mythical stone "ceraunius," the papal tiara, and St. Cecilia's crowns. The two-crown motif should be seen in the context of marriage and martyrdom. Matheolus' Lamentations provides the exact source and inspiration for Chaucer's use of the two-crown motif: Troilus' chastity and fidelity in his marriage with Criseyde bestowed the first crown on him; his heroic death on the battle field in defence of the fatherland won for him the second crown."