GREGOROVÁ, Růžena and Dana STEHLÍKOVÁ. The toad stone (Scheenstia tooth) on the reliquary of Saint Maurus at Bečov Castle (Czech Republic) and its significance. Revue de Paleobiologie. Route de Malagnou, 2024, vol. 43, No 1, p. 35-43. ISSN 0253-6730. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10732333.
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Basic information
Original name The toad stone (Scheenstia tooth) on the reliquary of Saint Maurus at Bečov Castle (Czech Republic) and its significance
Name in Czech Ropuší kámen (zub rodu Scheenstia) na relikviáři sv. Maura na zámku v Bečově nad Teplou (ČR) a jeho význam
Authors GREGOROVÁ, Růžena and Dana STEHLÍKOVÁ.
Edition Revue de Paleobiologie, Route de Malagnou, 2024, 0253-6730.
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Article in a journal
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
Organization unit Faculty of Arts
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10732333
Keywords (in Czech) ropuší zub; kameny organického původu; gemologie; fosilní rybí zub; Scheenstia; relikvář sv. Maura; cášská koruna; zámek Bečov nad Teplou; opatství Florennes; středověké encyklopedie
Keywords in English Toad stone; organic gem; gemology; fossil fish tooth; Scheenstia; reliquary of Saint Maurus; Aachen crown; Bečov nad Teplou Castle; Florennes Abbey; medieval encyclopedias
Tags International impact, Reviewed
Changed by Changed by: doc. Mgr. Dana Stehlíková, Ph.D., učo 19736. Changed: 15/3/2024 20:29.
Abstract
The paper deals with the oldest evidence of the use of the Scheenstia tooth (Mesozoic lepisosteiform fish) as part of the gem decoration on the early 13th-century reliquary of St. Maurus kept at Bečov nad Teplou Castle (Czech Republic). Since the Middle Ages, these teeth have been thought to be toad stones found in the heads of toads. Until the discovery of the toad stone on the reliquary of St. Maurus, no tangible evidence relating to this stone from this period was known. The discovery of a fossil tooth on such an important sacred art object was preceded by a similar discovery of two teeth on the imperial crown dated to the 14th century and held in the Aachen Cathedral Treasury. Color variations of about 500 pieces of teeth from more than 24 European localities were studied to find out how the color of teeth differs both within one locality and between individual localities. The goal was to understand whether it is possible to determine the provenance of teeth set as part of gem decoration in the Reliquary of St. Maurus and in the crown on the bust of Charlemagne in Aachen. In addition, a comparison of the colors of toad stones from the most important medieval sources with fossil Scheenstia teeth is discussed. Not all toad stones described in medieval literature can be identified with fossil teeth.
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