The amethyst has always been regarded as symbolical of the pioneer in thought and action on the philosophical, religious, spiritual and material planes. The virtues ascribed to this stone are many. It was regarded as a charm against witchcraft, poison and evil thoughts; it was an aid to chastity, a power against all forms of over-indulgence and a strengthener of the mind; it was a charm for securing the favour of princes, rulers, churchmen, people of wealth, influence and power, people with prophetic ability, poets, travellers, publishers, etc. It would strengthen the wisdom, faith and religion of the wearer and aid in prayer and in dreaming. If bound to the left wrist the amethyst enabled the wearer to see the future in dreams; to dream of the stone itself indicated success to a traveller, clergyman, sailor, philosopher, teacher or mystic, also protection, faith and fruitful thoughts. For pains in the head (headache, toothache, etc.), it was recommended that an amethyst be immersed in hot water for a few minutes, taken out, dried carefully and gently rubbed over the parts affected and the back of the neck. Almost all authorities agree in translating the Hebrew ACHLAMAH as amethyst and in identifying it as the ninth stone of the High Priest’s Breastplate. It was the seventh precious stone which the sage Iachus gave to Apollonius of Tyana as an emblem of piety and dignity. Many writers on the subject of planetary influences have placed this gem under the celestial Pisces, the fishes, because anciently Pisces was one of the mansions of Jupiter; but the sign of the Fishes is transparent and glistening in hue whilst in the nature of kinship a fiery gem belongs to a fiery zodiacal sign. In this direction the fiery Mars, as ruler of the sign Aries, has been confused with the Babylonian and Assyrian MARDUK or MERODACH. Marduk or Merodach represented the planet Jupiter, and to him Nebuchadnezzar addresses his songs of praise: “Merodach, the great lord, the senior of the gods, the most ancient has given all nations and people to my care.” “I supplicate the king of gods, the lord of lords in Borsippa, the city of his loftiness.” “O, god Merodach, great lord, lord of the house of the gods, light of the gods, father, even for thy high honour, which changes not, a temple have I built,” etc. The “house of the gods” is the ninth celestial house, naturally the sign Sagittarius, and in the Quabalah the ninth heavenly sphere is the Primum Mobile, the star-decked Heaven. (See “Numbers, their Meaning and Magic.”) The name Merodach or Marduk is a corruption of Mardugga (the sacred son), and because they saw the life-giving orb rising from the sea, the ancient Chaldean masters accounted Jupiter his first offshoot, hailing him as “Marduk:”—“Marduk, first born of the mighty deep, make us pure and prosperous.” The giving of prosperity is ever an attribute of Jupiter, and the measure and the source of the gift