1943 – Fossil: Star-stone
- Physical description:
- Small grey star-shaped fossil, the stem of a crinoid (sea-lily). These star stones were believed to bring victory over enemies to anyone who wore them.
- Museum classification:
- Spells and Charms
- Size:
- 5 diam, 10 long
- Information:
See also 1944.
Crinoid Stem. Pentacrinites fossilis. Top of Belemnite Marls, Lower Lias, L. Jurassic. Seatown, Dorset. 180 million years old. Crinoids are related to starfish and sea urchins. They are still found today, and are known as sea-lilies because of their beautiful feathery tentacles.
According to Thomas Nicols, in his 'Lapidary' (1652), star-shaped and star-patterned stones were believed to have 'a power of obtaining victory for him that weareth it against his enemies'; and he regarded these long star-shaped fossils as the 'true star-stone'.
Other 'victory stones' included a clear bean-sized 'stone' found in a cockerel's gizzard (Thomas Nicols), and diamond and opal ('The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus').- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Stone
- Copyright ownership:
- Treetrunk Ltd.
See also 1944.
Crinoid Stem. Pentacrinites fossilis. Top of Belemnite Marls, Lower Lias, L. Jurassic. Seatown, Dorset. 180 million years old. Crinoids are related to starfish and sea urchins. They are still found today, and are known as sea-lilies because of their beautiful feathery tentacles.
According to Thomas Nicols, in his 'Lapidary' (1652), star-shaped and star-patterned stones were believed to have 'a power of obtaining victory for him that weareth it against his enemies'; and he regarded these long star-shaped fossils as the 'true star-stone'.
Other 'victory stones' included a clear bean-sized 'stone' found in a cockerel's gizzard (Thomas Nicols), and diamond and opal ('The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus').