The Twelve Gems
Concerning 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
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
About this text
Fragments on the twelve gems of the high priest's breastplate, and what each one means.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 41–43 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.