gems, magical gems, history of gemology, ancient gems, gem lore, gems and healing, medicinal use

Lecouteux examines the role of stones possessing magical or marvelous properties in medieval literature and belief. Drawing on lapidaries and literary sources, he considers stones credited with powers extending beyond their physical qualities, including protection, healing, divination, invisibility, and other supernatural effects. The study places such stones within the medieval conception of the merveilleux, showing how traditions inherited from Classical and late-antique lapidary literature were incorporated into medieval narratives and systems of belief. Rather than treating these accounts simply as mineralogical lore, Lecouteux emphasizes the cultural function of magical stones and the ways their supposed virtues contribute to the supernatural world of medieval texts.