CHAP. 66.—PANCHRUS. PANGONUS. PANEROS OR PANERASTOS. PONTICA; FOUR VARIETIES OF IT. PHLOGINOS OR CHRYSITIS. PHŒNICITIS. PHYCITIS. PERILEUCOS. PÆNITIS OR GÆANIS.
Panchrus3390 is a stone which displays nearly every colour. Pangonus3391 is no longer than the finger: the only thing that prevents it from being taken for a crystal, is, its greater number of angles. What kind of stone paneros3392 is, Metrodorus does not inform us; but he gives some lines, by no means without elegance, that were written upon this stone by Queen Timaris, and dedicated to Venus; from which we have reason to conclude that certain fecundating virtues were attributed to it. By some writers it is called panerastos.3393 Of the stone called “pontica”3394 there are numerous varieties: one is stellated, and presents either blood-red spots, or drops like gold, being reckoned in the number of the sacred stones. Another, in place of stars, has streaks of the same colour, and a fourth presents all the appearance of mountains and valleys.
Phloginos,3395 also called “chrysitis,”3396 strongly resembles Attic ochre,3397 and is found in Egypt. Phœnicitis3398 is a stone so called from its resemblance to a date. Phycitis receives its name from its resemblance to sea-weed.3399 Perileucos3400 is the name given to a gem, in which a white colour runs down from the margin of the stone to the base. Pæanitis,3401 by some called “gæanis,”3402 conceives, it is said, and is good for females at the time of parturition: this stone is found in Macedonia, near the monument3403 of Tiresias there, and has all the appearance of congealed water.