Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder
Page 264
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CHAP. 60.
HELIOTROPIUM. HEPILESTITIS. HERMUAIDOION. HEXLCONTALITROS. HIERACITIS. HAMMITIS. HAMMONIS CORNU. HORMISCION. HYÆNIA. HÆMATITIS.
Heliotropium is found in Æthiopia, Africa, and Cyprus: it is of a leek-green colour, streaked with blood-red veins. It has been thus named, from the circumstance that, if placed in a vessel of water and exposed to the full light of the sun, it changes to a reflected colour like that of blood; this being the case with the stone of Æthiopia more particularly. Out of the water, too, it reflects the figure of the sun like a mirror, and it discovers eclipses of that luminary by showing the moon passing over its disk. In the use of this stone, also, we have a most glaring illustration of the impudent effrontery of the adepts in magic, for they say that, if it is combined with the plant heliotropium, and certain incantations are then repeated over it, it will render the person invisible who carries it about him.
Hephæsititis also, though a radiant stone, partakes of the properties of a mirror in reflecting objects. The mode of testing it is to put it into boiling water, which should immediately become cold. If exposed to the rays of the sun, it should instantly cause dry fuel to ignite: Corycus is the place where it is found. Hermuaidoion is so called from the resemblance to the male organs which it presents, on a ground that is sometimes white, sometimes black, and sometimes of a pallid hue, with a circle surrounding it of a golden colour. Hexecontalithos receives its name from the numerous variety of colours which, small as it is, it presents: it is found in Troglodytica. Hieracitis is entirely covered with mottled streaks, resembling a kite’s feathers alternately with black. Hammitis is similar in appearance to the spawn of fish: there is also one variety of it which has all the appearance of being composed of nitre, except that it is remarkably hard. Hammonis cornu is reckoned among the most sacred gems of Æthiopia; it is of a golden colour, like a ram’s horn in shape, and ensures prophetic dreams, it is said.
Hormiscion is one of the most pleasing stones to the sight; it is of a fiery colour, and emits rays like gold, tipped at the extremity with a whitish light. Hyænia is derived from the eyes of the hyæna, it is said, the animal being hunted to obtain it; placed beneath the tongue, if we believe the story, it will enable a person to prophesy the future. Hæmatitis, of the very finest quality, comes from Æthiopia, but it is found in Arabia and Africa as well. It is a stone of a blood-red colour, and we must not omit to mention the assurance given [by the magicians], that the possession of it reveals treacherous designs on the part of the barbarians. Zachalias of Babylon, in the books which he dedicated to King Mithridates, attributing the destinies of man to certain properties innate in precious stones, is not content with vaunting the merits of this stone as curative of diseases of the eyes and liver, but recommends it also as ensuring success to petitions addressed to kings. He also makes it play its part in lawsuits and judg- ments, and even goes so far as to say that it is highly beneficial to be rubbed with it on the field of battle. There is another stone of the same class, called “menui” by the people of India, and “xanthos” by the Greeks: it is of a whitish, tawny colour.
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CHAP. 61.
IDÆI DACTYLI. ICTERIAS. JOVIS GEMMA. INDICA. ION.
The stones called Idæi dactyli, and found in Crete, are of an iron colour, and resemble the human thumb in shape. The colour of icterias resembles that of livid skin, and hence it is that it has been thought so excellent a remedy for jaundice. There is also another stone of this name, of a still more livid colour; while a third has all the appearance of a leaf. This last is broader than the others, almost imponderous, and streaked with livid veins. A fourth kind again is of the same colour, but blacker, and marked all over with livid veins. Jovis gemma is a white stone, very light, and soft: another name given to it is “drosolithos.” Indica retains the name of the country that produces it: it is a stone of a reddish colour, and yields a purple liquid when rubbed. There is another stone also of this name, white, and of a dusty appearance. Ion is an Indian stone, of a violet tint: it is but rarely, however, that it is found of a deep, full, colour.
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CHAP. 62
LEPIDOTIS. LESBIAS. LEUCOPHTHALMOS. LEUCOPŒCILOS. LIBANOCHRUS. LIMONIATIS. LIPAREA. LYSIMACHOS. LEUCOCHRYSOS.
Lepidotis is a stone of various colours, and resembles the scales of fish in appearance. Lesbias, so called from Lesbos which produces it, is a stone found in India as well. Leucophthalmos, which in other respects is of a reddish hue, presents all the appearance of an eye, in white and black. Leucopœcilos is white, variegated with drops of vermilion of a golden hue. Libanochrus strongly resembles frankincense, and yields a liquid like honey. Limoniatis would appear to be the same as smaragdus; and all that we find said about liparea is, that employed in the form of a fumigation, it allures all kinds of wild beasts. Lysimachos resembles Rhodian marble, with veins of gold: in polishing it, it is reduced very considerably in size, in order to remove all defects. Leucochrysos is a kind of chrysolithos interspersed with white.
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CHAP. 63.
MEMNONIA. MEDIA. MECONITIS. MITHRAX, MOROCHTHOS. MORMORION OR PROMNION. MURRHITIS. MYRMECIAS. MYRSINITIS. MESOLEUCOS. MESOMELAS.
What kind of stone memnonia is, we do not find mentioned. Medea is a black stone, said to have been discovered by the Medea of fable: it has veins of a golden lustre, and yields a liquid like saffron in colour and with a vinous flavour. Meconitis strongly resembles poppies. Mithrax comes from Persia and the mountains of the Red Sea: it is of numerous colours, and reflects various tints when exposed to the sun. Morochthos is a stone of a leek-green colour, from which a milk exudes. Mormorion is a transparent stone from India, of a deep black colour, and known also as “promnion.” When it has a mixture of the colour of carbunculus, it is from Alexandria; and when it shares that of sarda, it is a native of Cyprus. It is found also at Tyrus and in Galatia; and, according to Xenocrates, it has been discovered at the foot of the Alps. These stones are well adapted for cutting in relief. Murrhitis has just the colour of myrrh, and very little of the appearance of a gem: it has the odour also of an unguent, and smells like nard when rubbed. Myrmecias is black, and has excrescences upon it like warts. Myrsinitis has a colour like that of honey, and the smell of myrtle. “Mesoleucos” is the name given to a stone when a white line runs through the middle; and when a black vein intersects any other colour, it is called “mesomelas.”
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CHAP. 64.
NASAMONITIS. NEBRITIS. NIPPARENE.
Nasamonitis is a blood-red stone, marked with black veins. Nebritis, a stone sacred to Father Liber, has received its name from its resemblance to a nebris. There is also another stone of this kind, that is black. Nipparene bears the name of a city and people of Persia, and resembles the teeth of the hippopotamus.
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CHAP. 65.
OICA. OMBRIA OR NOTIA. ONOCARDIA. ORITIS OR SIDERITIS. OSTRACIAS. OSTRITIS. OPHICARDELON. OBSIAN STONE.
Oica is the barbarian name given to a stone which is pleasing for its colours, black, reddish yellow, green, and white. Ombria, by some called notia,” falls with showers and lightning, much in the same manner as ceraunia and brontea, the properties of which it is said to possess. There is a statement also, that if this stone is placed upon altars it will prevent the offerings from being consumed. Onocardia is like kermesberry in appearance, but nothing further is said about it. Oritis, by some called “sideritis,” is a stone of globular form, and proof against the action of fire. Ostracias, or ostracitis, is a testaceous stone, harder than ceramitis, and similar in all respects to achates, except that the latter has an unctuous appearance when polished: indeed, so remarkably hard is ostritis, that with fragments of it other gems are engraved. Ostritis receives its name from its resemblance to an oyster-shell. Ophicardelon is the barbarian name for a stone of a black colour, termi
nated by a white line on either side. Of Obsian stone we have already spoken in the preceding Book. There are gems, too, of the same name and colour, found not only in Æthiopia and India, but in Samnium as well, and, in the opinion of some, upon the Spanish shores that lie towards the Ocean.
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CHAP. 66.
PANCHRUS. PANGONUS. PANEROS OR PANERASTOS. PONTICA; FOUR VARIETIES OF IT. PHLOGINOS OR CHRYSITIS. PHŒNICITIS. PHYCITIS. PERILEUCOS. PÆANITIS OR GÆANIS.
Panchrus is a stone which displays nearly every colour. Pangonus 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 paneros 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. Of the stone called “pontica” 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, also called “chrysitis,” strongly resembles Attic ochre, and is found in Egypt. Phœnicitis is a stone so called from its resemblance to a date. Phycitis receives its name from its resemblance to sea-weed. Perileucos is the name given to a gem, in which a white colour runs down from the margin of the stone to the base. Pæanitis, by some called “gæanis,” conceives, it is said, and is good for females at the time of parturition: this stone is found in Macedonia, near the monument of Tiresias there, and has all the appearance of congealed water.
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CHAP. 67.
SOLIS GEMMA. SAGDA. SAMOTHRACIA. SAURITIS. SARCITIS. SELENITIS. SIDERITIS. SIDEROPŒCILOS. SPONGITIS. SYNODONTITIS. SYRTITIS. SYRINGITIS.
Solis gemma is white, and, like the luminary from which it takes its name, emits brilliant rays in a circular form. Sagda is found by the people of Chaldæa adhering to ships, and is of a leek-green colour. The Isle of Samothrace gives its name to a stone which it produces, black and imponderous, and similar to wood in appearance. Sauritis is found, they say, in the belly of the green lizard, cut asunder with a reed. Sarcitis is a stone, like beef in appearance. Selenitis is white and transparent, with a reflected colour like that of honey. It has a figure within it like that of the moon, and reflects the face of that luminary, if what we are told is true, according to its phases, day by day, whether on the wane or whether on the increase: this stone is a native of Arabia, it is thought. Sideritis is a stone like iron, the presence of which in lawsuits creates discord. Sideropœcilos, which is a variety of the same stone, is a native of Æthiopia, and is covered with variegated spots.
Spongitis has its name from its resemblance to sponge. Synodontitis is a stone found in the brain of the fish known as “synodus.” Syrtitis is a stone that used formerly to be found on the shores of the Syrtes, though now it is found on the coasts of Lucania as well: it is of a honey colour, with a reflected tint of saffron, and contains stars of a feeble lustre within. Syringitis is hollow throughout, like the space between the two joints in a straw.
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CHAP. 68.
TRICHRUS. THELYRRHIZOS. THELYCARDIOS OR MULC. THRACIA; THREE VARIETIES OF IT. TEPHRITIS. TECOLITHOS.
Trichrus comes from Africa: it is of a black colour, but yields three different liquids, black at the lower part, blood- red in the middle, and of an ochre colour at the top. Thelyrrhizos is of an ashy or russet colour, but white at the lower part. Thelycardios is like a heart in colour, and is held in high esteem by the people of Persia, in which country it is found: the name given to it by them is “mule.” Of thracia there are three varieties; a green stone, one of a more pallid colour, and a third with spots like drops of blood. Tephritis is crescent-shaped, with horns like those of the new moon, but it is of an ashy colour. Tecolithos has all the appearance of an olive stone: it is held in no estimation as a gem, but a solution of it will break and expel urinary calculi.
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CHAP. 69.
VENERIS CRINES. VEIENTANA.
Veneris crines is the name given to a stone that is remarkably black and shining, with an appearance like red hair within. Veientana is an Italian stone, found at Veii: it is black, divided by a line of white.
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CHAP. 70.
ZATHENE. ZMILAMPIS. ZORANISCÆA.
Zathene, according to Democritus, is a native of Media. It is like amber in colour, and, if beaten up with palm-wine and saffron, it will become soft like wax, yielding a very fragrant smell. Zmilampis is found in the river Euphrates: it resembles marble of Proconnesus in appearance, and is of a seagreen colour within. Zoraniscæa is found in the river Indus: it is a stone used by magicians, it is said, but I find no further particulars relative to it.
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CHAP. 71. (11.)
PRECIOUS STONES WHICH DERIVE THEIR NAMES FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY. HEPATITIS. STEATITIS. ADADUNEPHROS. ADADUOPHTHALMOS. ADADUDACTYLOS. TRIOPHTHALMOS.
There is also another method of classifying stones; according to the resemblance which they bear to various other objects. Thus, for example, the different parts of the body give the following names to stones: — Hepatitis is so called from the liver; and steatitis from its resemblance to the fat of various animals. Adadunephros, adaduophthalmos, and adadudactylos, mean “kidney of Adad,” “eye of Adad,” and “finger of Adad,” a god of the Syrians so called. Triophthalmos is a stone found in conjunction with onyx, which resembles three human eyes at once.
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CHAP. 72.
PRECIOUS STONES WHICH DERIVE THEIR NAMES FROM ANIMALS. CARCINIAS. ECHITIS. SCORPITIS. SCARITIS. TRIGLITIS. ÆGOPHTHALMOS. HYOPHTHALMOS. GERANITIS. HIERACITIS. AETITIS. MYRMECITIS. CANTHARIAS. LYCOPHTHALMOS. TAOS. TIMICTONIA.
Other stones, again, derive their names from various animals. Carcinias is so called from the colour of the sea-crab; echitis, from the colour of the viper; scorpitis, from either the colour or the shape of the scorpion; scaritis, from the fish called scarus; triglitis, from the sur-mullet; ægophthalmos, from the eye of the goat; hyophthalmos, from the eye of the swine; geranitis, from the neck of the crane; hieracitis, from the neck of the hawk; and aëtitis, from the colour of the whitetailed eagle. Myrmecitis presents the appearance of an ant crawling within, and cantharias, of a scarabæus. Lycophthalmos is a stone of four different colours; on the exterior it is ruddy and blood-red, and within it is black, surrounded with a line of white, closely resembling the eye of the wolf in every respect. Taos is a stone with colours like those of the peacock. Timictonia, I find, is the name of a stone, like the asp in colour.
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CHAP. 73.
PRECIOUS STONES WHICH DERIVE THEIR NAMES FROM OTHER OBJECTS. HAMMOCHRYSOS. CENCHRITIS. DRYITIS. CISSITIS. NARCISSITIS. CYAMIAS. PYREN. PHŒNICITIS. CHALAZIAS. PYRITIS. POLYZONOS. ASTRAPÆA. PHLOGITIS. ANTHEACITIS. ENHYGROS. POLYTHRIX. LEONTIOS. PAEDALIOS. DROSOLITHOS. MELICHRUS. MELICHLOROS, CROCIAS. POLIAS. SPARTOPOLIAS. RHODITIS. CHALCITIS. SYCITIS. BOSTRYCHITIS. CHERNITIS. ANANCITIS. SYNOCHITIS. DENDRITIS.
Hammochrysos resembles sand in appearance, but sand mixed with gold. Cenchritis has all the appearance of grains of millet scattered here and there. Dryitis resembles the trunk of a tree, and burns like wood. Cissitis, upon a white, transparent surface, has leaves of ivy running all over it. Narcissitis is distinguished by veins on the surface, and has a smell like that of the narcissus. Cyamias is a black stone, but when broken, produces a bean to all appearance. Pyren is so called from its resemblance to an olive-stone: in some cases it would appear to contain the back-bone of a fish. Phœnicitis resembles a palm-date in form. Chalazias resembles a hailstone, bot
h in form and colour: it is as hard as adamant, so much so, indeed, that in the fire even it retains its coolness, it is said. Pyritis, though a black stone, burns the fingers when rubbed by them. Polyzonos is a black stone traversed by numerous zones of white.