Science Fair Project Encyclopedia

Carbuncle

(Redirected from Carbuncles)

A carbuncle is an abscess larger than a boil, usually with one or more openings draining pus onto the skin. It is usually caused by bacterial infection. Charles, Prince of Wales, once described a proposed redevelopment of Paternoster Square as a "like monstorous carbuncle on the face of a much loved friend", the friend being St. Pauls Cathedral.

A carbuncle is also a gem. A deep-red garnet, unfaceted and convex. Strong's Concordance, Hebrew dictionary interprets בָּרְקַת בָּרְקַת bâreqath bâreqath (baw-reh'-keth, baw-rek-ath')From Hebrew reference H1300; a gem (as flashing), perhaps the emerald:—carbuncle. So as to know what color of carbuncle actually appeared in Exodus 28:17 is not known. It was the third stone mentioned in the breastplate of the Hoshen.

Carbuncle is also the name of similar-looking monsters that appear in several different Japanese video games. In Puyo Puyo and its related games, Carbuncle is a "baby dragon" with a red gem on his forehead that shoots lasers. In the Final Fantasy series of games, Carbuncle is a fox-like "summoned" monster with a red gem in its forehead.

Carbuncle is also the term given to a mythical beast reportedly sighted in the Americas by early Spanish conquistadors. Nobody has ever gotten a good look at it, though; they have been described as small creatures, but it is unknown whether they are birds or mammals. It is certain that they wear gems on their foreheads; such gems come from the brains of dragons. According to myth, dragons have inside their brains a liquid that crystallizes into a solid gem when they die. Although this has never been proven, it is reportedly good luck to catch a carbuncle.

Last updated: 06-04-2005 17:07:00

10-26-2009 08:16:03
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