FLINT-STONE
FLINT-STONE
Flint comes from the Greek word Plintos which means "a brick". This is because flint has been used from antiquity as a material sort of brick for building stone walls, churches and houses in Old Europe. Brick making was not used in Europe until the late Middle Ages.
Flint is a finely crystallized variations of gray to black quartz that occur as bands in sedimentary rocks. Inside these bands, flint comes in various colors such as dark grey, black, green, white or brown, and often has a glass-like waxy appearance. If exposed to high temperatures, it will shatter, the same as glass. Flint has a hardness of 7 on Mohs scale.
Flint has been known since the Stone Age millions of years ago. It was an indispensable tool for survival. The ancient man made his first tools out of flint as it has the ability to break and chip into well-defined sharp-edges, making it perfect for sharp-edged weaponry like hunting spears, arrows and other cutting tools.
It was also used to make fire by striking against an iron pyrite stone or any steel.
Beautiful and skillfully pieces of jewelry and ritual objects made out of flint have been found all over the world. It was a symbol for mystery and magic and was used as a magical instrument in magical rituals.
In ancient Egypt, flint was used to create magical sacred scarab amulets. It was also used as a knife to cut open the dead body before embalming it.
The Mayan civilisation of ancient Mesoamerica made knives and elite, intricately designed artifacts out of flint.
Native Americans of the United States used flint to make their arrow heads for hunting.
Flint arrow heads, in Scotland and Ireland, were used as powerful talismans against witchcraft, envy and the evil wishes of the enemies, and against poison.
During the Middle Ages, flint was known as Elf Shot or Fairy Dart, also as Hag Stones, Holey Stones and Witch Riding Stones.
Ancient Europeans who dreaded the Night-mare would hang on their necks a flint with a hole in it. It was said that this amulet stops the night-mare from afflicting him with bad dreams. This "night-mare" which was said to be black, was also believed to be an old hag who rode the "mare" at night. This demon-witch was depicted as sweating all night. These flints were also used to protect the "mares" or horses from being ridden by the evil spirits.
In North of England, flint stones were called holy stones, or ephialtes stones, night-mare or Witch Riding Stones. It was the belief that evil spirits would banish at the sight of a flint with a hole in it.
Furthermore, Mare comes from the Saxon name of a female demon known as Incubus MARA. She comes to men in their sleep and mounts on top of their chest. The sleeper becomes paralyzed and cannot speak; yet, he can see the old hag. This dreaded Mara is a Vampire.
“In the 17th century, an overtly Christian symbol became common with “VV” being carved into timbers and stonework. This is believed to stand for Virgo Virgimnum (Virgin of Virgins) and invokes the protection of Mary.” [https://www.explorethepast.co.uk/2016/05/monthly-mystery-witches-horses-and-the-devil/ ]
Worthy of note is the fact that Maria, in Hebrew is Mara.
The finest pieces of flint come from Europe such as Belgium, England, Paris, Poland, Switzerland and Germany. Flint Ridge in Ohio, in the United States, is also an important source of flint since the ancient times.
Flint comes from the Greek word Plintos which means "a brick". This is because flint has been used from antiquity as a material sort of brick for building stone walls, churches and houses in Old Europe. Brick making was not used in Europe until the late Middle Ages.
Flint is a finely crystallized variations of gray to black quartz that occur as bands in sedimentary rocks. Inside these bands, flint comes in various colors such as dark grey, black, green, white or brown, and often has a glass-like waxy appearance. If exposed to high temperatures, it will shatter, the same as glass. Flint has a hardness of 7 on Mohs scale.
Flint has been known since the Stone Age millions of years ago. It was an indispensable tool for survival. The ancient man made his first tools out of flint as it has the ability to break and chip into well-defined sharp-edges, making it perfect for sharp-edged weaponry like hunting spears, arrows and other cutting tools.
It was also used to make fire by striking against an iron pyrite stone or any steel.
Beautiful and skillfully pieces of jewelry and ritual objects made out of flint have been found all over the world. It was a symbol for mystery and magic and was used as a magical instrument in magical rituals.
In ancient Egypt, flint was used to create magical sacred scarab amulets. It was also used as a knife to cut open the dead body before embalming it.
The Mayan civilisation of ancient Mesoamerica made knives and elite, intricately designed artifacts out of flint.
Native Americans of the United States used flint to make their arrow heads for hunting.
Flint arrow heads, in Scotland and Ireland, were used as powerful talismans against witchcraft, envy and the evil wishes of the enemies, and against poison.
During the Middle Ages, flint was known as Elf Shot or Fairy Dart, also as Hag Stones, Holey Stones and Witch Riding Stones.
Ancient Europeans who dreaded the Night-mare would hang on their necks a flint with a hole in it. It was said that this amulet stops the night-mare from afflicting him with bad dreams. This "night-mare" which was said to be black, was also believed to be an old hag who rode the "mare" at night. This demon-witch was depicted as sweating all night. These flints were also used to protect the "mares" or horses from being ridden by the evil spirits.
In North of England, flint stones were called holy stones, or ephialtes stones, night-mare or Witch Riding Stones. It was the belief that evil spirits would banish at the sight of a flint with a hole in it.
Furthermore, Mare comes from the Saxon name of a female demon known as Incubus MARA. She comes to men in their sleep and mounts on top of their chest. The sleeper becomes paralyzed and cannot speak; yet, he can see the old hag. This dreaded Mara is a Vampire.
“In the 17th century, an overtly Christian symbol became common with “VV” being carved into timbers and stonework. This is believed to stand for Virgo Virgimnum (Virgin of Virgins) and invokes the protection of Mary.” [https://www.explorethepast.co.uk/2016/05/monthly-mystery-witches-horses-and-the-devil/ ]
Worthy of note is the fact that Maria, in Hebrew is Mara.
The finest pieces of flint come from Europe such as Belgium, England, Paris, Poland, Switzerland and Germany. Flint Ridge in Ohio, in the United States, is also an important source of flint since the ancient times.