[Article]: Cephalopod Fossils: Myths and Legends (by Phil)

[Phil]

Thanks Clem, I must admit I had rather forgotten about Saligrams. It seems that they are rather important in Hindu spiritual belief as they give protection for crossing rivers and streams. I've found a couple more interesting links for you about them; the first is a little more background information, the second actually shows an ammonite fossil as a centrepiece of a ritual.

 

[hallucigenia]

Etymology of the word "saligram": corruption of "chalgram" from the Indian town called Chalagrama where they found a bunch of them. So says the OED, at least.

It's not as Greek as one might suppose, then. Huh. That wouldn't have been my guess.