The foregoing chapter dealing with the identification of the stones of the Breastplate has necessitated study and research, and the classification reproduced in the table following rests on a secure base. Many of the scholars of the past when endeavoring to render Hebrew stone names into our own language were hampered by a none too technical knowledge of the gems themselves, whilst many of the later writers were handicapped by lack of astrological knowledge so essential in a matter of this kind. This will be sufficient to explain the numerous contradictions regarding the identification and allotment of the famous stones by whose agency the psychic priests communicated with the angels of God. It has already been explained in Chapter V why the tribal names do not agree with the signs of the Zodiac and the stones on which they were engraved. Some remarks of Philo Judaeus may with advantage be re-quoted here: In reference to the Breastplate he writes: "Then on his chest there are twelve precious stones of different colours, arranged in four rows of three stones in each row, being fashioned so as an emblem of the Zodiac. For the Zodiac also consists of twelve animals and so divides the four seasons of the year, allotting three animals to each season. And the whole place is very correctly called the Logeum since everything in Heaven has been created and arranged in accordance with right reason and proportion: for there is absolutely nothing there which is devoid of reason. And on the Logeum he embroiders two woven pieces of cloth, calling the one Manifestation and the other Truth. And by the one which he calls Truth he expresses figuratively that it is absolutely impossible for falsehood to enter any part of Heaven but that it is entirely banished to the parts around the Earth dwelling amongst the souls of impious men. THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE BREASTPLATE. ──────────────────┬──────────────────┬───────────────────── Hebrew Name of │ Modern Name of │ Equivalent Sign of Stone │ Stone │ Zodiac ──────────────────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────── 1. Odem │Red Haematite │Aries 2. Pitdah │Emerald │Taurus 3. Bareketh │Marble │Gemini 4. Nofek │Chrysoprase │Cancer 5. Shoham │Sardonyx │Leo 6. Jashpeh │Jasper │Virgo 7. Lesham │Opal │Libra 8. Shebo │Banded Agate │Scorpio 9. Achlamah │Amethyst │Sagittarius 10. Tharshish │Serpentine │Capricorn 11. Sapir │Lapis Lazuli │Aquarius 12. Jaholom │Crystal │Pisces ──────────────────┴──────────────────┴─────────────────────