Return to Ancient Astrology and Divination on the Web Nautical Lapidary Ascribed to Astrampsychus pp. 192-193, Les Lapidaires de L'Antiquit� et du Moyen Age v. 2 (Paris 1898) Translated from the Greek by Tim Spalding   1. Coal and chalcedony worn by a child will not allow him to shipwreck in the deep. 2. Iron and the so-called owl stone--the one in Macedonia from around the solid mountain--seems, as a crystal, to protect against large waves and storms. The same powers are conveyed by the stone found in India which is fiery and silvery in appearance. 3. Beryl is translucent, bright and sea-colored. Let Poseidon going in a two-horsed chariot be inscribed upon it and there will be no injury in troubles to those traveling over the ocean. 4. The "woodpecker" is a stone of whiteish hue; it suits good sailing. 5. Coral with the skin of a seal wrapped around the mast-head of a ship counteracts winds and waves, and all disturbances of water. 6. The snake-coil stone comes from the mountains of Egypt; it has ?encompassing scales in itself, like the coils of a snake. If one has it, he will be protected without danger in a squall. 7. Obsidian, not exceedingly large, but pale, is found in Phrygia and Galatia; it is also called "pitch," because rubbing it produces the smell of pitch. It is useful when worn by someone making a journey over the ocean or a river.