Unheard-of Curiosities/6

by Jacques Gaffarel

the contents.

1. The insupportable vanity of some Pretenders to Learning, is noted.
2. How these Talismanicall Figures are called in Hebrew, Chaldie, Greek, and Arabick. The Etymology of Talisman uncertain, against Salmasius.
3. By what meanes the power of Figures is proved: and who they are, among the Arabians, that have defended it.
4. Of certaine admirable Talismans, found at Paris, & Constantinople : and what happened to these places, after the breaking of them.
5. What the Dij Averrunci of the Ancients were. παταίκοὶ, whence derived : and whence the custome of setting up Figures, and Images in Ships came.
6. The fable of the stone Bractan, in Turky, discovered : and a Conjecture given, concerning the Palladium, and the Statues mentioned by Philo Judæus.
7. The Golden Calfe, and the Brazen Serpent, falsely said to be Talismans : and why the Serpent was made of Brasse, rather then of any other metall.
8. The Wonderfull Effects of 3. Talismans, spoken of by Scaliger, M. de Breves, and the Turkish Annals : and of what vertue these other were, that were made by Paracelsus, M. Lagneau, and diverse Learned Italians.
9. The Power of these Figures proved, by the power that Resemblance is known to have, in all Arts, and Sciences : and first in Divinity. Why the Ancients placed Images in their Temples.
10. In Philosophy. Of the Power of Imagination.
11. In Physicke. Of some Animals, Plants, and Graines, that doe good, and hurt, meerly by Resemblance.
12. In Astrology. A Certaine meanes of foretelling Evils to come, by the Colour of the Meteors that appeare.
13. In Physiognomy. The manner how to know the Naturall Inclination of any man, according to Campanella.
14. In the Art of Divination of Dreames. Examples, both Sacred, and Prophane, touching this Subject.
15. In Painting. Why our Saviour Christ is oftner pictured Suffering upon the Crosse, then Sitting at the right hand of his Father.
16. In Musick. Of some Diseases that are cured by it.
17. The manner of making these Talismans.
18. The Talismanicall Operations set downe by Thebit Ben-chorat, Trithemius, Gocklenius, Albinus Villanovensis, & Marcellus Empiricus, condemned.
19. What power the Heavens have, over things here below.
20. The reason of the names of the Celestiall Images.
21. What Influence the Heavens have upon Artificiall things.

There is nothing in the whole businesse of Philosophy, that hath more perplexed our New Philosophers, then this Subject, concerning Images, or Figures, made under some certaine Constellations. Th greatest part of them therefore have rejected the Practice of these Operations, as Vaines, and Superstitious : yet some others, who are not so overswayed with Passion, have both allowed, and defended it ; though they have, I confesse, sufferedfor it, in their repute : insomuch that Galeottus, who is acknowledged by Paulus Jovius to have been one of the most Learned, and Knowing men of his time ; only for having undertaken the Defence of this Truth, (as we shall make it hereafter appeare,) hath been handled by some, like any base, Inconsiderable Fellow ; and Camillus accounted no better, then an Atheisticall Wretch. And this is the usage they bestow upon all the Ablest Men : whereas they ought rather to answer their Arguments pertinently, and to shew the Insufficiency of them, if they can : but see the Mischiefe of it. If any of these men chance to be in company, where there is any mention made of the most Able Scholers, or there be any Question started, concerning any of those Choyce Points of Learning, for which these men have been Deservedly ranked above the Herd of Vulgar Braines ; you shall have some giddy-headed fellows, that will not stick to say, without blushing, that they never wrote any thing of any worth at all, nor ever understood the matter they handled. I my selfe have heard one say, that Marsilius Ficinus understood not any thing of Plato's Doctrine ; nor Averoes of Aristotles : and that the Wits of these Times are much quicker, then those of the Ages past. And now, Reader, thou maist judge, whether this Vanity of theirs be to be indured, or no. But to leave these men to enjoy their owne Ignorance, and referring these Considerations to some other time, we shall only in this place prove, (against all those that have condemned them,) that the making of these Figures we here speak of, is Lawfull ; and the Power they have, is Naturall, Constant, and Certaine. In the first place therefore let us consider their Name.

2. They are called in Hebrew מגן Maguen, that is to say, a Scutcheon, or Sheild: in Chaldie, Ægyptian, and Persian, צלמניא Tsilmenaia, which signifies a Figure, or Image : in Arabicke תלצמם Talisman, or צלמם Tsalimam ; and in Greek, ϛοιχεῖα. The Hebrew word Maguen, though it signifie a Scutcheon, or any other thing, noted with Hebrew Characters, the Vertue whereof is like to that of a Scutcheon : and although these Characters, according to the Opinion of those that are most versed in these Theologicall Mysteries, are some kind of Imperfect Images ; yet notwithstanding the word in this place is not properly taken for an Image that is Graven, carved, or painted ; because that the Jewes, in making any such, should have sinned against the Commandement : Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any graven Image. Maguen therefore signifies Properly any piece of Paper, or other the like Matter, marked, or noted with certaine Characters drawne from the Tetragrammaton, or Great Name of Fowre Letters ; or from any other : as we shall shew hereafter.