Eagle-stones

or Aetītes (αετιτηζ). Yellow clay ironstones supposed to have sanative and magical virtues. They are so called because they are found in eaglesʹ nests. Epiphanius says, “In the interior of Scythia there is a valley inaccessible to man, down which slaughtered lambs are thrown. The small stones at the bottom of the valley adhere to these pieces of flesh, and eagles, when they carry away the flesh to their nests, carry the stones with it.” The story of Sindbad in the Valley of Diamonds will occur to the readers of this article (Epiphanius: De duodecim gemmis, etc., p. 30; 1743).