I don't think so, because it's "breaking" the grip, as in "coming out of"....
But you're right about turning the stones 180 degrees. "Contrary" is just a fancy word for "opposite" in this context.
Damn this game, I could never get through to the final circle in Atlantis, there must have been some ridiculous machine part (destined to be stuck in that broken armed statue gaurding the door) that I never found - or I couldn't work out how to connect the chain to the broken arm, something like that, I can't remember now... But however much I damn it now, I still absolutely loved that game, and I still do
