But the most interesting find here so far is The Marble Stone, "inspired" by your initial comment about "mere crystal", thanks. :) As a result, I now think that this is a reference to The Tables (Ex 24:12, 31:18). This might deserve a separate post later on.
a) MARBLE TABLES WHICH STOOD BETWEEN THE PILLARS (Tamid 31a, Middot 3:5)
b) THERE WERE TWO TABLES INSIDE THE PORCH AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOUSE, THE ONE OF MARBLE AND THE OTHER OF GOLD.(Menachot 99b)
c) Wisdom is יש "Yesh" Being. Kinship is שי "Shay" (reversed). Combined they form שיש "Shayish" (marble) ... These waters are completely pure. (Cordovero @ wiki) (warning: kabbalism) The point here, if accurate, would be not even that marble symbolizes something, but rather that "Shayish" in this context means (as terminology, abbreviation) "Sefirot from Alpha to Omega" (comp. logic to Avot 3:18 in the posting), but is read and translated as "marble".
d) This image harks back ... to the essence of the first Tablets of Law (r. Yaakov, p.16) This quote came as a timely corroboration, thanks again.
marble
a) MARBLE TABLES WHICH STOOD BETWEEN THE PILLARS (Tamid 31a, Middot 3:5)
b) THERE WERE TWO TABLES INSIDE THE PORCH AT THE ENTRANCE OF
THE HOUSE, THE ONE OF MARBLE AND THE OTHER OF GOLD.(Menachot 99b)
c) Wisdom is יש "Yesh" Being. Kinship is שי "Shay" (reversed). Combined they form שיש "Shayish" (marble) ... These waters are completely pure. (Cordovero @ wiki) (warning: kabbalism)
The point here, if accurate, would be not even that marble symbolizes something, but rather that "Shayish" in this context means (as terminology, abbreviation) "Sefirot from Alpha to Omega" (comp. logic to Avot 3:18 in the posting), but is read and translated as "marble".
d) This image harks back ... to the essence of the first Tablets of Law (r. Yaakov, p.16) This quote came as a timely corroboration, thanks again.