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

Whether called emerald, jasper, agate, onyx, or anthracite… stones have a long history and, since Antiquity, have fired the imagination, nourishing beliefs, legends, and superstitions. Considered to be inhabited by sacred powers, they protect against accidents, envy, and witchcraft; they grant invisibility and the gift of tongues; they help fulfill wishes, predict the future, enhance memory, and cure illnesses… As for treatment, it may be done through application or rubbing, by grinding into powder to make a potion, or by wearing as a bracelet, ring, or pendant. Continuing his work on the supernatural, Claude Lecouteux, in this richly illustrated dictionary, has consulted many lapidaries—pagan, Christian, Gnostic…—and thus offers us a masterful synthesis at the crossroads of the history of mentalities, religions, and mysticism.