gems, lore, history, medicinal use of gems, magical gems, healing gems, Medieval gems, jade

Sinkankas: Richly detailed, scholarly study of employment of talismans and similar protective devices. The introduction defines amulets, talismans, and pantacles and notes their extremely long use as an integral part of the culture in many civilizations. Gemstones appear in a brief discussion of the High Priest’s breastplate and the Urim and Thummim, p. 24–7, while remarks on use of gemstones in talismans and amulets by the Gnostics are found throughout Ch. 4, 100–20. Jades and other gemstones used by Pre-Columbian Indians of North America are noted in Ch. 7, 176–87, talismanic virtues of jade among the Chinese, Ch. 9, 217–9, and in the second part, Ch. 11, 253–78, “Les Lapidaires Magiques,” is entirely devoted to stones used as talismans throughout history, it also mentioning the use of bezoars and other organic materials and providing a summary list of occult or curative properties of gemstones, 270–5. A useful, valued work.