1944 – Fossil: Star Stone
- Physical description:
- A small grey stone containing whitish fossils - star-shaped crinoid stems and cone-shaped belemnites. Stones like this were known as Star Stones, and also Victory Stones because they were believed to bring victory to anyone who wore or carried them.
- Museum classification:
- Spells and Charms
- Size:
- 40 x 45 x 15
- Information:
See also 1943.
From Lyme Bay. Jurrasic Period, 170 million years ago.
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. Belemnites are often found with crinoid fossils, as they are the fossils of squid-like creatures who fed on them.
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'. These stones were also believed to come from the heads of dragons, perhaps because they were found alongside dinosaur fossils (though Thomas Nicols thought this was just a fiction to increase the price). 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 1943.
From Lyme Bay. Jurrasic Period, 170 million years ago.
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. Belemnites are often found with crinoid fossils, as they are the fossils of squid-like creatures who fed on them.
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'. These stones were also believed to come from the heads of dragons, perhaps because they were found alongside dinosaur fossils (though Thomas Nicols thought this was just a fiction to increase the price). 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').