Fragments on the Twelve Gems
De xii gemmis (fragmenta)
The Twelve Gems§1
1Concerning the holy Epiphanius and the twelve stones placed in the priest's treasury. The Sardius, called the Babylonian, is fiery and blood-colored, and it is produced in Babylon in the land toward the Assyrians. It is transparent and possesses a healing power, which physicians use for swellings and for wounds caused by iron.
The Topaz is a stone redder than coal, and it is produced in the city of Topaz in India. When rubbed with a medical pestle, it does not yield a juice red in color, but rather a milky one. It fills vessels and many quantities as much as the one rubbing desires, and it is not diminished in weight or in circumference. The juice rubbed from it is useful for ailments of the eyes, and for those suffering from hydrophobia when drunk, and for those wasted by sea-grapes.
The Emerald is green, and the barbarians mining it in the Indian mountains cut it. Its power is for the reflection of faces. The Anthrax is sharp-shining in appearance, and it is produced in Carthage of Libya, which is called Africa. They say that it is found not in the day, but in the night; for from a distance, like the light of a torch or a sparkling coal, it rests for an hour. Those seeking this, recognizing what it is, go toward its light and find it. When it is carried, whatever garments it is wrapped in, its light shines through the barrier.
The Sapphire is purplish, and it is produced in Ethiopia and India. When rubbed, it heals growths and boils with...
Greek · §1
De xii gemmis (fragmenta ap. Anastasium Sinaitam, Quaestiones et responsiones) Τοῦ ἁγίουἘπιφανίου περὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ λογίῳ τοῦ ἱερέως ἐμπεπηγμένων ιβʹ λίθων. Σάρδιον, τὸ Βαβυλώνιον καλούμενον, πυρωπὸς μέν ἐστι καὶ αἱματώδης, γίνεται δὲ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι τῇ πρὸςἈσσυρίους γῇ. ∆ιαυγὴς δέ ἐστι, δυνάμεως θεραπευτικῆς, ᾧ κέχρηνται οἱ ἰατροὶ πρὸς οἰδήματα καὶ πληγὰς ἀπὸ σιδήρου γενομένας ἀποχριόμενοι. Τοπάζιον ἐρυθρὸς μέν ἐστιν ὑπὲρ τὸν ἄνθρακα λίθον, γίνεται δὲ ἐν Τοπάζῃ πόλει τῆςἸνδικῆς. Τριβόμενος δὲ ἐν ἰατρικῇ ἀκόνῃ, οὐκ ἐρυθρὸν ἀποδίδωσι κατὰ τὸ χρῶμα χυμὸν, ἀλλὰ γαλακτώδη. Ἐμπίπλησι δὲ κρατῆρας καὶ πολλοὺς, ὅσους ἂν ἐθέλῃ ὁ ὑποτρίβων, καὶ οὔτε τῷ στάθμῳ, οὔτε τῇ περιφερείᾳ ἐλαττοῦται. Χρησιμεύει δὲ ὁ τριβόμενος ἐξ αὐτοῦ χυμὸς εἰς πάθη ὀφθαλμῶν, καὶ πρὸς τὰς ὑδρομανίας πινόμενος, καὶ τοῖς ἀπὸ σταφυλῆς θαλασσίας μαινομένοις. Σμάραγδος χλωρὸς μέν ἐστιν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ὄρεσι τοῖς Ἰνδικοῖς ὀρύγοντες οἱ βάρβαροι, κόπτουσιν αὐτόν.Ἡ δὲ δύναμις αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸ ἐσοπτρίζεσθαι τὰ πρόσωπα. Ἄνθραξ ὀξυφοινισσὸς μέν ἐστι τῷ εἴδει, γίνεται δὲ ἐν Καρχηδόνι τῆς Λιβύας, ἥτιςἈφρικὴ λέγεται. Φασὶ δὲ αὐτὸν οὐκ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, ἀλλ' ἐν νυκτὶ εὑρίσκεσθαι· πόῤῥωθεν γὰρ δίκης λαμπάδος ἢ ἄνθρακος σπινθηρακίζων, ἐπὶ ὥραν καταπαύεται. Ἐπιγνόντες δὲ οἱ τοῦτον ζητοῦντες, ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν, ἀπέρχονται πρὸς τὴν αὐγὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτόν. Βασταζόμενος δὲ ὁποίοις ἂν ἱματίοις καταλυφθῇ, ἡ αὐγὴ αὐτοῦ ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς φαίνει. Σάπφειρος πορφυρίζων μέν ἐστι, γίνεται δὲ ἐν Αἰθιοπίᾳ καὶἸνδίᾳ. Τριβόμενος δὲ, φύματα καὶ ψύδρας ἰᾶται σὺν
Gems and the Scythian Abyss§2
2Being smeared with milk upon the drawn places. And the law given to Moses on the mountain is said to have appeared upon a sapphire stone. Jasper is emerald-colored, and is found near the mouth of the Marmodotus river, and near Amathus in Cyprus; It helps with seizures.acinth is sub-fiery, and is found in the inner Barbarian lands of Scythia.
The ancients have been accustomed to call Scythia the whole northern climate, where the Goths and Danes are. There, therefore, within the wilderness of Great Scythia, there is a most deep gorge, impassable to men, surrounded here and there by rocky mountains, so that one peering down from the heights of the mountains, as if from walls, is unable to see the ground of the gorge, but from the depth it is darkened like a chaos. In this gorge, those sent from the kings raging there are convicts and are being forced. Having sacrificed rams and having skinned them, they throw them down from the rocks into the chaos of the gorge, and the stones stick in those meats. Eagles, therefore, dwelling above in the rocks, descend toward the smell of the meats, and carry up the rams with the stones attached. In the eating of the meats, the stones remain in the sharp parts of the mountains. And the convicts, having looked to see where they were carried up...
Greek · §2
γάλακτι ἐπιχριόμενος τοῖς εἱλκωμένοις τόποις. Καὶ ἡ ἐν τῷ ὄρει δὲ τῷ Μωϋσῇ δοθεῖσα νομοθεσία, ἐπὶ λίθῳ σαπφείρῳ λέγεται πεφηνέναι. Ἰάσπις σμαραγδίζων μέν ἐστιν, εὑρίσκεται δὲ παρὰ τὸ στόμα Μερμόδοντος τοῦ ποταμοῦ, καὶ παρὰἈμαθουντίῳ Κύπρου. Χρησιμεύει δὲ εἰς τὰς ἐπιλήψεις. Ὑάκινθος ὑποπυρίζων μέν ἐστιν, εὑρίσκεται δὲ ἐν τῇ ἐσωτέρᾳ Βαρβαρίᾳ τῆς Σκυθίας. Σκυθίαν δὲ εἰώθασι καλεῖν οἱ παλαιοὶ τὸ κλίμα ἅπαν τὸ βόρειον, ἔνθα εἰσὶν οἱ Γότθοι καὶ ∆άνεις.Ἐκεῖ τοίνυν ἔνδον ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς μεγάλης Σκυθίας ἐστὶ φάραγξ λίαν βαθυτάτη, καὶ ἀνθρώποις ἄβατος, ὄρεσι πετρῶν ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν περιστοιχισμένη, ὥστε ἄνωθεν ἀπ' ἄκρων τῶν ὀρέων παρακύψαντά τινα, ὡς ἀπὸ τειχῶν, μὴ δύνασθαι κατοπτεύειν τὸ ἔδαφος τῆς φάραγγος, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τοῦ βάθους ἐσκοτίσθαι ὥσπερ τι χάος· ἐν ᾗ οἱ ἀπεσταλμένοι ἀπὸ τῶν ἐκεῖσε πλη89.589 σιαζόντων βασιλέων, κατάδικοί εἰσι καὶ βιαζόμενοι. Θύσαντες δὲ ἀρνοὺς καὶ ἐκδείραντες ῥίπτουσιν ἄνωθεν ἀπὸ τῶν πετρῶν εἰς τὸ χάος τῆς φάραγγος, καὶ κολλῶσιν οἱ λίθοι ἐν τοῖς κρέασιν ἐκείνοις. Ἀετοὶ οὖν ἐν ταῖς πέτραις ἄνωθεν κατοικοῦντες, πρὸς τὴν ὀσμὴν τῶν κρεῶν κατέρχονται, καὶ ἀναφέρουσι τοὺς ἀρνοὺς ἔχοντας τοὺς λίθους.Ἐν δὲ τῷ ἐσθίειν τὰ κρέα οἱ λίθοι μένουσιν ἐν τῇ ἀκρωρείᾳ τῶν ὀρέων. Οἱ δὲ κατάδικοι σκοπήσαντες, ποῦ ἀνήχθησαν
Properties and Locations of Gems§3
3Eagles carry away meat, and in this way they carry stones. They possess such a power: for when they are thrown upon coals of fire, they themselves are not harmed, but they extinguish the coals. Not only this happens, but if a man takes a stone and having enclosed it in a pane, places it upon coals, while he holds it, it is ignited by the fire, yet the pane remains unharmed.
It is also said to be useful to women in childbirth for the sake of fruitfulness. Agate is sub-shining, and this is also found around those Scythian lands. When rubbed upon the forehead, it prevents the pain of the bite of scorpions and vipers. Amethyst is deeply glowing, and is found in the mountains of Libya near the shores of the sea.
Chrysolith is golden-colored, and is found in the Aphraite rock, near the edge of Achaemenid Babylon. For they call Babylon and that pit of the Achaemenid rock there. When rubbed, it serves as a physician for contemplative (and colicky) and abdominal ailments. Beryl is blue-glancing, and is found near the seeds of the mountain called Taurus. Onyx is yellow, and this is also found in the same mountain.
The mountain was called Semir, and the things resembling it, from a single son of Semir.
Greek · §3
ὑπὸ τῶν ἀετῶν τὰ κρέα, ἀπέρχονται, καὶ οὕτω φέρουσι τοὺς λίθους. Ἔχουσι δὲ ἐνέργειαν τοιάνδε· βαλλόμενοι γὰρ ἐπ' ἀνθράκων πυρὸς, αὐτοὶ μὲν οὐ βλάπτονται, τοὺς δὲ ἄνθρακας κατασβεννύουσιν. Οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ λαμβάνων τις τὸν λίθον, καὶ περιειλίσας ἐν ὀθόνῃ, τινὶ ἐπιθεὶς ἐπ' ἄνθρακας, κρατῶν αὐτὸν μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς πυρᾶς φλογίζεται, ἡ δὲ ὀθόνη ἀβλαβὴς μένει, Λέγεται δὲ καὶ ταῖς τικτούσαις γυναιξὶν εὐτοκίας χάριν χρησιμεύειν. Ἀχάτης ὑποκυανίζων μέν ἐστιν, εὑρίσκεται δὲ καὶ οὗτος περὶ τὰς Σκυθίας χώρας ἐκείνας. Τριβόμενος δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ μετώπῳ, δήγματος ἀποτρέπει πόνον σκορπίων τε καὶ ἐχιδνῶν. Ἀμέθυσος φλογίζων μέν ἐστι βαθέως, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ὄρεσιν εὑρίσκεται Λιβύης πρὸς ταῖς ὄχθαις τῆς θαλάσσης. Χρυσόλιθος χρυσίζων μέν ἐστιν, εὑρίσκεται δὲ ἐν τῇἈφραίτιδι πέτρᾳ, παρὰ τὸ χεῖλος τῆςἈχεμενίδος Βαβυλῶνος. Τὴν γὰρ Βαβυλῶνα καὶ τὸ φρέαρ ἐκεῖνο τῆς πέτραςἈχεμενίδα καλοῦσι. Τριβόμενος δὲ, στοχαστικοῖς (καὶ κωλικοῖς) καὶ κοιλιακοῖς ἰατρικὸς ὑπάρχει. Βηρύλλιον γλαυκίζων μέν ἐστι, γίνεται δὲ παρὰ τὰ σπέρματα τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ καλουμένου Ταύρου. Ὀνύχιον ξανθὸν μέν ἐστιν, εὑρίσκεται δὲ καὶ οὗτος ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ ὄρει. De xii gemmis (fragmenta alia ap. Anastasium Sinaitam, Quaestiones et responsiones) Επιφανίου ἐκ τοῦ πρὸς ∆ιόδωρον. Σομορὼν μὲν οὖν ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄρος, καὶ τὰ ὁμοροῦντα, ἀπὸ Σεμὴρ ἑνὸς υἱοῦ
The Samaritan Guardians of the Law§4
4Regarding the Canaanites, before Abraham arrived in the land. When the guardians arrived, they were called Samaritans, that is, guardians. These were guardians not only of the land, but also of the law; for they were guarding the Pentateuch alone, which they had received from the king through Ezra, so that by this the seed of Abraham might be distinguished.
But they did not guard the law completely; for this reason the Scripture says, 'They remained doing the law of God, and worshiping idols.' Since the law commands that idols must not be worshiped, how can it still be fulfilled? The hypothesis provides this method: for the wicked of the four nations, knowing that Ezra had settled and detesting idols according to the law of God, hurried to hide the idols in a cave on Mount Gerizim, and turned the hearts of the Samaritans toward the mountain to pray.
Consequently, wherever they may be, those turning from east to west, and from west to east, and from north toward the south, they pray while facing the northern mountain, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, 'They remained doing the law of God, and worshiping their idols.' For even if they themselves are ignorant that the idols lie there, it is not possible to make the divine Scripture a liar.
Greek · §4
τῶν Χαναναίων, πρὶν ἢ ἐπιβῆναι τὸν Ἀβραὰμ τῇ γῇ. Ἐλθόντων δὲ τῶν φυλακῶν, ἐκλήθησαν Σαμαρεῖται, τουτέστι, φύλα89.597 κες. Φύλακες δὲ ἦσαν οὐ μόνον τῆς γῆς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ νόμου· ἐφύλαττον γὰρ τὴν Πεντάτευχον μόνην, ἣν ἔλαβον διὰ Ἔσδρα τοῦ βασιλέως, ἵνα ἐκ τούτου διακρίνηται τὸ σπέρμα τοῦ Ἀβραάμ. Ἀλλ' οὐ τελείως τὸν νόμον ἐφύλαττον· διό φησιν ἡ Γραφή· "Ἔμειναν ποιοῦντες τὸν νόμον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ προσκυνοῦντες τὰ εἴδωλα." Τοῦ δὲ νόμου κελεύοντος εἴδωλα μὴ προσκυνεῖσθαι, πῶς ἔτι πληρωθήσεται; Ἔχει δὲ ἡ ὑπόθεσις τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον· Γνόντες γὰρ οἱ μιερεῖς τῶν τεσσάρων ἐθνῶν, ὅτι ἐνεδήμησεν Ἔσδρας, βδελυττόμενος τὰ εἴδωλα κατὰ τὸν νόμον Θεοῦ, σπεύσαντες ἔκρυψαν τὰ εἴδωλα ἐν τῷ Γαρίζῃ ὄρει ἐν μυχῷ τινι, καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν τὴν καρδίαν τῶν Σαμαρειτῶν πρὸς τὸ ὄρος εὔχεσθαι. Ὅθεν, ὅπου δ' ἂν ὦσι, πρὸς τὸ ὄρος εὔχονται οἱ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῆς πρὸς δυσμὰς ἀποστρεφόμενοι, καὶ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν πρὸς ἀνατολὰς, καὶ ἀπὸ βοῤῥᾶς πρὸς τὴν μεσημβρίαν, πρὸς τὸ ἀρκτῷον τῷ ὄρει προσέχοντες εὔχονται, ἵνα πληρωθῇ ἡ Γραφὴ, ἡ λέγουσα· "Ἔμειναν ποιοῦντες τὸν νόμον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ προσκυνοῦντες αὐτῶν τὰ εἴδωλα." Εἰ γὰρ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀγνοοῦσι κειμένων τῶν εἰδώλων ἐκεῖσε, ἀλλ' οὐ δυνατόν ἐστι τὴν θείαν Γραφὴν ψεύσασθαι.