AMAZONITE OR AMAZON STONE. The Amazon Stone is a green variety of Feldspar. The name is said to have been derived from the Amazon River, but no specimens have been found there. The meagre evidence available about this stone certainly does not favour its connection with the Amazon River in any way. This river was named the Amazon in the 16th century by the Spanish explorer Orellana in consequence, it is said, of an encounter he had with a band of women warriors on its banks. He called the mighty stream the Amazon after the women described by Herodotus, Diodorus, etc., and the Amazon stone also was named after them. In a letter to the author (1905) the late Comte de Glenstrae wrote: "It is to the Amazons led by Myrina (Diodorus Siculus) that we owe the establishment of the Samothracian mysteries which their Queen founded after aiding Isis and Horus in the war against Typhon, as the Amazons of an earlier date had aided Neith (Athene) and Amoun against the usurpation of Chronos. I have always had a great admiration for the Amazons, and few again have noticed that the coins of the seven cities of Asia (Apocalypse) bore generally the figure of an Amazon as each of those cities was said to have been founded by one of their Queens. There is much in their symbolism. That story of their breasts being amputated is nonsense, being refuted by every monument. As Sanchoniathon says, “the Greeks confused nearly every legend.” It was said that the Amazons had their right breasts singed off, the better to enable them to draw their bows; but the word Amazon does not mean “without breast,” nor does it appear to have any connection with the word “mazos” meaning “a breast.” There does not seem to be any reason to doubt that the Circassian word “Maza,” the moon, explains its origin. The Amazons of Thermodoon in Asia Minor are termed “worshippers of the moon.” The Amazons were votaries of the “chaste Diana” in one of her attributes, and no male was allowed to live among them. No matter by what name she is called, Diana is a moon goddess and a woman’s goddess, and no male was allowed to offend her modesty. Actaeon who saw her bathing was charmed into a stag, and fell a victim to his own hunting dogs, while the hunter Orion, ardent in his passion for Eos, the Morning, was slain by the “sweet arrows” of Diana. Thus, the Amazon stone received its name from the romantic Amazons or worshippers of Maza, the moon. It is under the Zodiacal Cancer. CHAPTER XII AMBER—AZURITE AMBER “_Pretty, in amber to observe the forms Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms! The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare, But wonder how the devil they got there._” POPE.