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Aetites
Also known as Aquilaeus, Gagites,
"The Pregnant Stone" and "Eagle Stone."
From the Greek
aetos (eagle), it is a stone composed
of oxide of iron with a little silex and alumina which, according to
Pliny,
can be found in the nest, neck or
stomach of an eagle. In occult tradition, this stone was thought to offer protection at childbirth, among other
magical
and medical properties.
Theophrastus (3rd
century BC), a pupil of
Aristotle, stated that "the most astounding and
greatest power of these stones (if indeed this be true) is that of bearing
progeny."
Marbodus of Rennes
called the aetites "the guardian and defender of nests."
Aetius wrote of this stone in the 6th century AD:
"The aetites serves to discover thieves, if anyone places
it in the bread which they eat; for whoever has committed a theft is
unable to consume the bread. It has also been stated that, if cooked
with any kind of food, the aetites unmasks thieves, since they cannot
eat such food. If taken with wax from
Cyprus, with fresh olive oil, or
with any other calefacient, this stone greatly helps those suffering
from rheumatism and paralysis."
The 16th century English version of the
The Book of Secrets
— a type of magical almanac
falsely attributed to Albertus Magnus,
but probably written by one of his followers — refers to the aetites as a stone of purple color that can be found near banks of
the ocean, and "containeth always another stone in it, which soundeth in it
when it is moved."
The stone is big with another inside it, which
rattles, as if in a jar when you shake it. According to occult lore, it should be worn bound to the
arm to prevent abortion, and on the thigh to aid parturition.
Dioscurides,
Plutarch, and others
believed that the stone actually pulled out the unborn child and retained
its power of traction long after the birth. A 16th century physician
reported that a woman suffered a fatal prolapse of the uterus because a
large eagle’s stone was not removed from her immediately after her delivery.
The Talmud also recommended its use.
Other
allegedly magical properties include conferring sobriety, increasing
riches, and moving the wearer to love; it was also said to bring victory and
popularity, and preserve children from harm.
See
Talisman,
Casting Black Magic Spells,
Commanding Spirits,
The Tarot Store and
Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies.
Sources: (1) Spence, Lewis,
An Encyclopedia of
Occultism, Carol Publishing Group;
(2)
Dictionary of the
Occult, Caxton
Publishing; (3) Cooper, J.C. (editor),
Brewer's Book of Myth and
Legend, Cassell; (4) Best, Michael R., and Brightman, Frank H.
(editors),
The Book of Secrets,
Weiser Books; (5) Bonner, Campbell,
Studies in Magical Amulets,
University of Michigan Press.
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