3041 Or “golden beryl,” The modern Chrysoberyl is altogether a different stone from the one here described, which probably is identical with Chrysoprase or leek-green Chalcedony, the stone next mentioned.
3042 “Leek-green and gold.”
3043 “Sky-coloured.”
3044 The largest specimen of Beryl known, belonged to Don Pedro. It was not cylindrical in form, but shaped like the head of a calf, and weighed 225 ounces troy.
3045 Which is the case.
3047 “Pterygia.”
3048 In the Uralian Mountains, for example.
3049 Opals are hydrated silica, the amount of water varying.
3050 On the contrary, precious Opal is found in Hungary, at Frankfort, and in Honduras, and other varieties in numerous parts of the world, including the East Indies.
3053 The largest opal known is in the Imperial cabinet at Vienna. It is the size of a man’s fist, and weighs 17 ounces, but is full of fissures.
3054 See Carm. 53 of the Poems of Catullus.
3055 A.U.C. 788.
3056 See B. viii. c. 47. He alludes to the story of the Beaver.
3057 See B. xxii. c. 29.
3058 This is the case with common opal, as distinguished from precious opal.
3059 “Lovely youth.”
3061 A mixture of brown-red and white chalcedony.
3062 From the Greek Σάρδιον, “sard,” and ὄνυξ, a “finger nail.”
3063 His meaning seems to be that it does not present the bright transparent red of the Indian Sarda or Carnelian. See Chapter 31 of this Book.
3064 “Quâdam spe.” Un soupçon, as the French would say.
3065 This would appear, from the description, to be an Agate, or variegated Chalcedony.
3066 He probably intends to include the Sarda or Carnelian here.
3067 A variety, probably, of common Chalcedony.
3069 “Fæculentæ,” of the colour of wine-lees.
3070 So called from ὄνυξ, a “finger-nail.” It is a variety of the Chalcedony, resembling Agate, but the colours are arranged in flat horizontal planes.
3072 It is pretty clear that the Onyx of Pliny included not only our Onyx, but several other varieties of the Chalcedony.
3073 “Igniculos.”
3074 “Carnosas.” It is somewhat doubtful whether our Carnelian, or Cornelian, take its name from this word, or from “cornus,” a cornel-berry.
3076 Literally meaning a “red-hot coal.” The carbunculus of Pliny is supposed to include not only the red, or Iron and Iron-lime garnet, but the Spinelle ruby also, or Oriental ruby.
3077 There is some truth in this, as some few kinds both of the Garnet and Ruby are infusible. Of the ruby, the red varieties change to brown, black, and opaque even, as the temperature increases, and on cooling become first green, and then nearly colourless, but at last resume their red colour.
3078 From the Greek; meaning “incombustible.”
3079 From Καρχήδων, the Greek name for Carthage.
3080 Carthago Magna, so called in contradistinction to Carthage Nova, or New Carthage, in Spain.
3081 See B. v. c. 29.
3082 In the vicinity of Orthosia. It is from this place that one kind of garnet is now called “Almandine.” There is also the Almandine, or violet-coloured ruby. Sec Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 238. Bohn’s Edition. It is probable that Carthage was the great entrepôt for the carbunculi of the Garamantes and Æthiopia, where Red sapphire, Red corundum, or Oriental ruby, was probably found.
3083 A variety, perhaps, of Iron garnet, or Iron-lime garnet.
3084 Desfontaines suggests that this may have been the Balas ruby, or possibly the Syrian Garnet, of a violet purple colour. Not improbably it is the Almandine ruby.
3085 “Pinnato fulgore.” This mottled appearance is to be seen in the interior of some red garnets.
3086 Common garnets, probably.
3087 Sillig suggests that this may be from λιγνὺς, “soot.” The reading, however, is extremely doubtful.
3088 See Introduction to Vol. III. If this is the truth, they were made of some of the crystals of the garnet, probably.
3089 De Lapid. see 61.
3090 “Pliny has here committed a gross mistake, which has not been observed by Hardouin. Theophrastus, in the passage alluded to, does not speak of a ruby, but the well-known black marble of Chio; though he calls both carbunculus, a name given to the ruby, on account of its likeness to a burning coal, and to the black marble on account of its resemblance to a quenched coal or cinder; and the latter, as well as the Obsidian stone, was sometimes used for mirrors.”—Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. II. pp. 67, 68. Bohn’s Edition.
3091 “Illos.” He should have said “hos”—“the latter.”
3092 See B. iv. c. 35; the present Lisbon.
3093 Dalechamps thinks that this is the same as the “anthracites” mentioned in B. xxxvi. c. 38, and identifies it either with our Anthracite, or else with pit-coal or bituminous coal. It is much more likely, however, that a precious stone is meant; and, in conformity with this opinion, Brotero and Ajasson have identified it with the Spinelle or scarlet Ruby, and the Balas or rose-red ruby, magnesiates of alumina.
3094 Sec B. iv. c. 1.
3095 “Carbo.” This word may mean either a “burning coal” or “charcoal” hence the confusion that has arisen in identifying the mineral substance that is meant.
3097 “Sandaresus” and “Sandasiros” are other readings. This stone has not been identified, but Ajasson is inclined to think that it may have been Aventurine quartz, and is the more inclined to this opinion, as that mineral is found in Persia, and sandastra or tchandastra is purely a Sanscrit word. The description, however, would hardly seem to apply to Aventurine.
3098 Littré suggests that the reading here probably might be “ob id non magno”—“sell not so dear.”
3099 It has not been identified.
3100 From λυχνὸς, a “lighted lamp” or “torch.” Brotero is of opinion that this is the Cherry-coloured ruby, that the Ionian stone is the Purple ruby, and that the kermes-berry coloured stone is the Scarlet or Spinelle ruby. From the distinct reference made to its electric nature, Ajasson identifies it with Tourmaline, a Silicate of alumina. Beckmann is of the same opinion; Hist. Inv. Vol. I. p. 88. Bohn’s Edition.
3101 “Remissiorem.”
3102 See B. xxi. cc. 33, 39, where the “Flos Jovis” is mentioned in juxtaposition with the flower called “lychnis,” either the Umbel’d Campion rose, or the Common red rose Campion.
3103 “Coccum.” “Kermes-berry coloured.” These kinds probably were, Indicolite or Blue tourmaline, and Rubellite or Red tourmaline.
3104 As Beckmann remarks, he should have said that it first attracts, and then repels them; such being the case with Tourmaline.
3105 Not identical, most probably, with the Carchedonian or Carthaginian stone mentioned in Chapter 25, which was probably a garnet or a ruby. Ajasson has no doubt that it is identical with jasper quartz, including the varieties called Striped or Riband jasper, and Egyptian jasper.
3106 See B. v. c. 5, and B. vii. c. 2.
3107 Tourmaline, probably, in combination with other mineral substances.
3108 Carnelian, a variety of Chalcedony. It is originally grey, or greyish red, which afterwards turns to a rich, deep, red, on exposure to the sun’s rays, and subsequently to artificial heat.
3109 Which supplies the best carnelians at the present day.
3110 From their mixture, Ajasson says, with argillaceous earth.
3111 Under this name Pliny evidently speaks of the stone known to us as Chrysolite, and possibly of green agate as well. Our Topaz cannot be easily recognized in this Chapter, at all events.
3112 See B. vi. c. 34.
3113 See B. vi. c. 34.
3114 Τοπάζω in Greek, signifies “to conjecture.”
3115 It was agate, most probably.
3116 “Leek-green.” Ajasson and Desfontaines think that this must have been either Oriental Chrysolite or Oriental Peridote.
3117 Some would identify this with Oriental topaz or yellow corundum, a variety of the Sapphire; while others would see in it the genuine Topaz; and others, again, think it synonymous with the Chrysoprase. The name “chrysopteron” means “golden-wing.”
3118 “Leek-green and gold.” An apple or leek-green Chalcedony, coloured by nickel. See Chapters 20, 34, and 73, of this Book.
3120 Dana thinks this identical with the Turquois. Ajasson and Desfontaines identify it with Oriental Peridote.
3121 Turquois is found in large quantities in a mountainous district of Persia, not far from Nichabour; where it occurs in veins which traverse the mountains in all directions.
3122 Isidorus says, B. xvi. c. 17, that they wore it in the ears. The Shah of Persia, it is said, retains for his own use all the larger and more finely tinted specimens of turquois that are found in his dominions.
3123 This story is now regarded as fabulous.
3124 See B. x. cc. 44, 79.
3125 The stone now known as “Prase” is a vitreous, leek-green, variety of massive quartz.
3126 This may possibly have been Plasma, a faintly translucent Chalcedony, approaching jasper, having a greenish colour, sprinkled with yellow and whitish dots, and a glistening lustre. Or, perhaps, Bloodstone or Heliotrope, a kind of jasper.
3128 “Cymbia.” Drinking vessels shaped like a boat.
3129 Or “Nile-stone.” Egyptian jasper, or Egyptian pebble, a kind of quartz.
3131 Called μολόχη or μαλάχη in Greek.
3132 Also of Siberia, Shetland, the United States, and numerous other localities.
3133 Meadow-green jasper.
3134 Salmasius erroneously takes this to be the Turquoise. It is our sky-blue jasper, no doubt. See Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. I. p. 471, Bohn’s Edition.
3135 See B. vi. c. 2.
3136 The Bamberg MS. gives “Calchedon” here.
3137 Namely, πορφυρίζουσα, ῥοδίζουσα , and σμαραγδίζουσα.
3138 “Northern,” apparently.
3139 “Sky-blue,” mentioned above.
3140 See Chapter 31. Red jasper, or perhaps Red porphyry.
3141 “Aut” appeals to be a preferable reading to the “ut” of the Bamberg MS.
3142 See B. xv. cc. 12, 13.
3143 “Terebinthizusa.” Yellow jasper, Ajasson says.
3145 “Seal-stone.” A kind of carnelian, probably.
3146 “Publico gemmarum dominio iis tantum dato, quoniam optime signent.” The above is the sense given to the passage by Holland, Ajasson, and Littré; but another translation may also be suggested—“A stone to which alone, by general consent, is awarded the custody of precious stones, from the fact that it makes the best impression as a seal.” In reference to the custom of putting a seal on the dactyliothecæ, or jewel-caskets. See page 80 of this Book.
3147 “Single-lined.”
3148 “Many-lined.”
3149 Albertus Magnus, De Mineral. B. ii., has several other stories respecting it of a similar nature.
3150 Jasper onyx.
3151 Identified by Ajasson with snow-flake chalcedony.
3152 Spotted jasper onyx.
3153 See B. xxxi. c. 41.
3154 Smoked jasper onyx.
3155 It is still used for making vases, boxes, knife-handles, and other articles, and is much used in the manufacture of Florentine mosaics. We may also remark, that the “iaspis” of Pliny probably included some stones not of the jasper kind.
3156 “Azure stone;” generally supposed to have been a species of Lapis lazuli or azure. Beckmann is of opinion that it was a mineral or mountain blue, tinged with copper.
3157 It is found in China, Persia, Siberia, and Bucharia.
3158 Ultramarine is prepared from Lapis lazuli, and an artificial kind is extensively in use, which equals the native in permanency and brilliancy of colour, and is very extensively employed in the arts. Theophrastus, De Lapid. sec. 55, speaks of this artificial ultramarine.
3159 This must not be taken for the Sapphire of the present day, but was most probably Lapis lazuli, and identical, perhaps, with Cyanos. Beckmann has devoted considerable attention to this subject; Hist. Inv. Vol. I. pp. 468-473. Bohn’s Edition.
3160 Particles of iron pyrites, probably, which are frequently to be seen in Lapis lazuli.
3161 Quartz, probably, according to some authorities.
3162 So called, according to some authorities, from ἀ, “not,” μεθύω, “to intoxicate,” on account of its being a supposed preservative against inebriety. Ajasson is of opinion that Pliny does not here speaks of the Quartz Amethyst of modern mineralogy, but only the Oriental Amethyst, violet Sapphire, or violet Corundum. It is not improbable, however, that he includes them all, as well as violet Fluor spar, and some other purple stones; inclusive, possibly, of the Garnet.
3163 He is probably speaking here of violet Fluor spar; Oriental amethyst, or violet sapphire, it is next to impossible to engrave.
3164 See B. ix. c. 62.
3165 The city of Pharan, mentioned by St. Jerome and Eusebius.
3166 “In suspectu.” See B. xxi. c. 22.
3168 “Avenger of slighted love.”
3169 “Veneris gena;” called in Greek “Aphrodites blepharon.”
3171 A kind of Baboon. See B. vi. c. 35, B. vii. c. 2, and B. viii. c. 80.
3172 It is considered very doubtful whether the modern Hyacinth or Zircon is one of the number of stones that were called “Hyacinthus” by the ancients. Jameson appears to have thought that they gave this name to the oriental amethyst or violet sapphire.
3173 See B. xxi. c. 38.
3174 Generally supposed to be the Oriental topaz, yellow Sapphire or yellow Corundum. We have already seen, in Chapter 32, that the “Topazos” of the ancients was in all probability the modern Chrysolite.
3175 In Pontus: see B. vi. c. 4.