is perfect according to God, excellence is sufficient for ornament. Therefore, he fashioneth and expresseth the virtues in the habit of the priest. Above, upon the head, is the name of God; upon the breast, reason; below, flowers and fruits.
From Saint Epiphanius regarding the twelve stones set in the breastplate of the high priest.
A The Sardius stone, called the Babylonian, is fiery and blood-colored. It is born in the land of Babylon among the Assyrians. It is transparent and has the power of healing. Physicians use it by anointing for tumors, welts, and wounds inflicted by iron.
The Topaz is redder than the carbuncle stone. It is born in Topaz, which is a city of India. When ground in a medicinal mortar, it does not emit a red juice in accordance with its color, but a milky one. It fills many bowls—as many as he who grinds it desires—and it is diminished neither in weight nor in circumference. The juice expressed from it is useful for the treatment of diseases of the eyes, and if drunk, for hydromania; it also heals those who are seized by madness from the sea grape.
The Emerald is green. In the mountains of India, the barbarians who mine it cut it. Its power is such that faces may be seen in it as in a mirror.
The Carbuncle is of a very deep red color. It is born in the city of Carthage in Libya, which is called Africa. They say it is not found by day, but by night. B For from afar it scintillates like a lamp or a burning coal, and from hour to hour it ceases. Those who seek it, knowing it to be of such a nature, go toward its gleam and find it. When it is carried, whatever clothes it may be covered with, its splendor shines outside the garment.
The Sapphire shows a purple color. It is born in India and Ethiopia. When ground, it heals tumors and scabs if it is anointed with milk on ulcerated places. And the Law which was given to Moses on the mountain is said to have been written upon a sapphire stone.
The Jasper is similar to the emerald. It is found at the mouth of the river Thermodon, C and near Amathus in Cyprus. It is useful in curing the comitial disease (epilepsy).
The Hyacinth is reddish. It is found in the interior of the Barbaria of Scythia. The ancients were accustomed to call all the northern region where the Goths and Danes are "Scythia." There, then, deep within the desert of great Scythia, is a chasm or most profound pit, inaccessible to men, and surrounded on all sides by crags of stone, so that if anyone looking down from the top of the mountains above, as if from ramparts, cannot see the bottom of the pit, but [sees] it as a certain chaos D that is darkened by depth: where those dwell who are condemned by neighboring kings to perpetual imprisonment.
A When they have sacrificed lambs and flayed them, they throw them down from the rocks into the chaos of the abyss, and the stones stick to that meat. Eagles, therefore, dwelling in the rocks above, descend to the scent of the meat and carry up the lambs, which have the stones [attached]. While they eat the meat, the stones remain on the mountain-top. The condemned, having watched where the meat was carried up by the eagles, go there, and in this way they collect the stones. They have this efficacy: when thrown upon the coals of a fire, they themselves are not harmed, but they quench the coals. And not only this, but if anyone holds the stone wrapped in a linen cloth and places it upon the coals, he who holds it is burned by the heat of the fire in his hand, yet the linen cloth remains entirely unharmed. It is said also to procure an easy delivery for women in childbirth.
Achates (agate) is of a light blue color. It is also found in those regions of Scythia. If it is rubbed on the forehead, it averts the pain from the bite of scorpions and vipers.
Amethyst is deeply fiery; it is found in the mountains of Libya on the seashore.
Chrysolite is like gold; it is found in the Phreatid rock near the edge of Achemenid Babylon. For they call Babylon and that well of the rock "Achemenid." If it is rubbed, it is medicinal for those who suffer from stomach and abdominal pain.
Beryl is of a sea-green color; it originates in the summits of the mountain called Taurus.
Onychinus (onyx) is yellowish; it is also found in the same mountain.
B (From Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus, on that passage of Exodus: "My name is the Lord, and I did not make it known to them.")
He teaches with what honor and kindness he deigned to treat him. For the name he did not make known to the patriarchs, this he made manifest to Moses; for he said to him, "I am who I am." This, among the Hebrews, is called ineffable; for it is forbidden for them to utter it with the tongue. It is written by four characters, whence it is also called the tetragrammaton. This was also written upon the golden plate C which, fastened to the headband of the head, hung upon the forehead of the high priest. The Samaritans call that name Jabe, but the Jews, Ja.
QUESTION XLI
How is that to be understood: "Solomon spoke of the trees, from the cedar to the hyssop that is in the wall"?
ANSWER.
[He spoke] of the natures and powers of plants and trees,