gems, early lapidaries, Alfonso X, Spain, Catalan, astrology, mythology, magical gems

The “Lapidary” compiled by King Alfonso X of Castile and León presents a detailed account of precious and semi-precious stones—valued not only for their beauty and common presence but also for their astrological significance, as each stone is linked to the stars, planets, and zodiacal figures. Drawing on ancient traditions from Babylonians, Egyptians, Iranians, Greeks, and Arabs, these texts contributed to the development of celestial sciences and to enduring beliefs about the properties of birthstones. When an important Arabic treatise on stones reached Alfonso’s court, the king—himself a learned man—eagerly had it translated into Castilian for his people, recognizing its value within the broader body of astrological and astronomical knowledge he was curating. True to his custom, he commissioned the finest scribes and miniaturists to create a royal manuscript, which is precisely why it has survived for over seven centuries.