- āĕtītēs [L.]; ἀετίτης [Gk.]
- [<ἀετός "eagle"]
"eagle stone". A pebble- or egg-sized piece of mineral kept as a charm for safe childbirth.
According to Pliny, it is found in aeries (eagles'nests), and is also known as "ga[n]gites"
gagites [L.] (=γᾰγάτις [Gk.] )*1; and protects against the abortion of the foetus*2.
In a 16th century English version of the The Book of Secrets falsely attributed to Albertus Magnus,
aeitities is also known as aquileus, and is of purple colour, found near banks of the ocean,
and "containeth always another stone in it, which soundeth in it when it is moved."*3.
As to the identification of a specific mineral, the OED says it is an "argillaceous [clayey] oxide of iron," and
Wyckoff (translator of the genuine Albertus Magnus book) notes that it is a "geode".
*1
Plin. 10, 3, 4, § 12;: The first three and the fifth class of eagles employ in the construction of their aerie the stone aëtites,1 by some known as "gangites;".. ("tribus primis et quinto aquilarum generi inaedificatur nido lapis aëtites, quem aliqui dixere gagiten")
However, the English Bk. of Secrets of Albertus, mentioned below, considers "gagates" to be
a distinct stone, separate from "aetites".
*2 Pliny 30, 14, 44, § 130. (Ch.44--Methods of Facilitating Delivery).
)
*3
The book of secrets of Albertus Magnus of the virtues of herbs, stones and certain beasts,
"Book 2: Virtues of Stones" Edited by Michael R. Best and Frank H. Brightman,
(Oxford [Eng.] Clarendon Press, 1973).
* cf. alectorian "cockstone", chelidonius "swallowstone", syrites from wolves, synodontitis from fish, etc.
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