Luminous Emeralds and a Carbuncle Story

Not only the ruby, but the emerald also had the reputation of being a luminous stone, for, besides the shining "emerald" pillar in the temple of Melkart at Tyre, Pliny records the tale of a marble lion, with eyes of gleaming emeralds, which was set over the tomb of "a petty king called Hermias." This tomb was on the coast, and the flashing light from the emerald eyes frightened away the tunny-fish, to the great loss of the fishermen." (Plinii, "Naturalis historia,".) Whether the eyes of the magnificent chryselephantine statue of Athene by Phidias were supposed to be luminous we do not know, but they were incrusted with precious stones. (Platonis, "Hippias major," ed. Didot.)

The collection of works by the English alchemists, published by Elias Ashmole, contains the tale of a worthy parson who lived in a little town near London, and who wished to immortalize himself by building across the Thames a bridge which would always be lighted at night. After relating several expedients which suggested themselves to him, the poet continues:

At the laste he thought to make the light,

For the Bridge to shine by nighte,

With Carbuncle Stones, to make men wonder,

With double reflexion above and under:

Then new thought troubled his Minde

Carbuncle Stones how he might finde;

And where to find wise men and trewe,

Which would for his interest pursue,

In seeking all the Worlde about,

Plenty of Carbuncles to find out;

For this he took so mickle thought,

That his satt flesh wasted nigh to naught." (Norton's "Ordinall"; in Ashmole "Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum," London, 1652.)