The name of this stone is derived from the youth Hyakinthos. It has been written at various times as hiacinth, hiacinthe, hyacint, hiacynth, hyacinthe, hiacint, etc. The true hyacinth, which is not to be confounded with the sapphire, the hyacinthus of the ancients, is a brilliant zircon (q.v.) of a transparent red or ruddy cinnamon colour. It is found with a garnet of similar hue which is also called hyacinth but which shows structural differences and is classified under the name ESSONITE (q.v.). The peculiar granular nature of this hyacinth can be seen, even when cut, under an ordinary lens. It is said in ancient story that Apollo caused the death of the lovely and beloved youth Hyakinthos when throwing his disc, and that from the blood which fell to the ground a lovely flower sprang. The myth symbolizes the fertility of Nature and was celebrated by the festival Hyakinthia, which expresses the grief of Apollo over the precious life he had taken and the subsequent joy when the flower gave promise of the return of the slain one in harmony with Nature’s immortal moods. The gem hyacinth was considered a charm against bowel disorders, as a mental tonic and a strengthener of the mind against all kinds of temptation. It promised bountiful harvests to the farmer and filled the Cornu Copia of the Virgin Goddess. The name JACINTH, usually applied to the yellow variety of the gem, is a contraction of hyacinth, and appears as Iacincte, Iacynkte, Iassink, Jacounce, Jagounce, Jacincte, Jacynct, Jacynth, etc. Like all the Zircon family these stones are electric and attract fluff and exhibit phosphorescence. Thomas de Cantempre describes the jacinth as a stone of yellow colour which protected the wearer from melancholy and poison, drawing to him the love of God and man. Leonardus said that it brought sleep to the tired brain and gave wisdom and protection in times of pestilence. De Boodt also recommends the gem as a cure for insomnia, advising that it be worn enclosed in a small bag of brown material suspended just over the solar plexus. Francis Barrett in the section of his book devoted to Natural Magic says: “The jacinth also possesses virtue from the sun against poisons, pestilences and pestiferous vapours: likewise it renders the wearer pleasant and acceptable: conduces also to gain money: being simply held in the mouth it wonderfully cheers the heart and strengthens the mind.”