Chapter 398

2641In B. xxxiv. c.17.

2642“Cavea.” The place where the spectators sat, much like the “pit” of our theatres.

2643See B. xxxiii. c.19.

2644“Choragio.”

2645He was defeated and slain in Africa by Juba and P. Attius Varus.

2646And, consequently, of more strict manners, and more strict morals.

2647“Tabulis.” The wooden frames, probably, which formed the margin of one side of each theatre, and which, when they were brought together, would make a diameter running through the circle which they formed. Hardouin thinks that these theatres are alluded to in Virgil, Georg. B. III. l. 22,et seq.

2648In allusion, probably, to the addresses delivered by Curio, when tribune, from the Rostra, in favour of Cæsar.

2649“Pensiles.” Pliny not improbably intends a pun here, this word meaning also “suspended,” or “poised”—in reference, probably, to their suspension on the pivots in Curio’s theatres.

2650Between Cæsar and Pompey, which he is supposed to have inflamed for his own private purposes.

2651He was prætorB.C.144; and, in order that he might complete his aqueduct, his office was prolonged another year.

2652This aqueduct was begun by Appius Claudius Cæcus, the censor, and was the first made at Rome;B.C.313.

2653See B. iii. c. 17. It was commenced by M. Curius Dentatus,B.C.273, the water being brought a distance of 43 miles. It was afterwards known as the “Anio Vetus,” to distinguish it from another aqueduct from the same river, mentioned in this Chapter, and called the “Anio Novus.” The former was constructed of Peperino stone, and the water-course was lined with cement. Considerable remains of it are still to be seen.

2654The Aqua Tepula was constructedB.C.127; so that it is doubtful if Pliny is not here in error.

2655The Aqua Marcia was brought a distance of upwards of 60 miles, from the vicinity of Sublaqueum, now Subiaco, and was of such elevation that water could be supplied to the loftiest part of the Capitoline Hill. A considerable number of the arches are still standing. In the vicinity of the city it was afterwards united with the Aqua Tepula and the Aqua Julia; the watercourse of the last being above that of the Aqua Tepula, and that above the course of the Aqua Marcia. See B. xxxi. cc. 24, 25.

2656See B. xxxi. cc. 24, 25.

2657See B. xxxi. c. 25.

2658See end of B. iii.

2659Victor mentions 856 public baths at Rome.

2660Caligula.

2661Anio Novus.

2662Nero.

2663See B. ii. c. 106, and B. iii. c. 17. In order to check the sudden rise of its waters, a design was entertained by Julius Cæsar to construct a subterranean canal from the lake into the valley of the Liris, which, unfortunately, was frustrated by his death. Claudius, however, executed the work, by cutting a gallery upwards of an English mile and a half through the limestone rock; a work which, according to Suetonius, occupied thirty thousand workmen continually for eleven years. On opening it with a mock naval combat, an accident happened in which many persons lost their lives, and Claudius himself but narrowly escaped. The emissary answered its purpose for some time, and, though Nero suffered the works to fall into decay, they were repaired by Hadrian. In the middle ages, however, the work fell in, and has not since been restored.

2664See B. iii. c. 9.

2665“Magnes.”

2666In Chapter23of this Book.

2667“Iron earth;” fromσίδηρος, “iron.” The magnet, or loadstone itself, is an oxide of iron, known as Oxidulated iron, or Ferroso-ferric oxide; sometimes in combination with quartz or alumine.

2668From Heraclea, in Lydia, or in Thessaly, according to some accounts. It is not improbable, however, that it was so called after “Heracles,” or Hercules, on account of its powerful influence upon iron ores.

2669Isidorus says, “India,” in B. 16 of the “Origines.”

2670See the list of authors at the end of thisBook.

2671Varieties, no doubt, of oxide of iron.

2672An absurd distinction, as Ajasson remarks; based, probably, on Eastern notions, and with reference to the comparative powers of attraction.

2673Fromαἷμα, “blood.” He alludes to Specular iron, red ochre, or red hematite, another oxide of iron.

2674Sometimes it has, but in a very slight degree.

2675Ajasson remarks that most probably the possessors of this pretended variety knew the distinction between the two poles of the magnet, and took care, when it was their interest to do so, to place the opposite pole towards that of the other loadstone.

2676It was the belief of the Duke of Noya Caraffa, that this stone was identical with Tourmaline: but, as Beckmann says, tourmaline, when heated, first attracts iron, and then repels it. Hist. Inv. Vol. I. pp. 87, 88.Bohn’s Edition.Ajasson is of opinion that the Theamedes was neither more nor less than the ordinary loadstone, with the negative pole presented, by designing persons, towards another magnet.

2677In B. ii. c. 98, and B. xx. c. 1.

2678See B. iv. c. 23.

2679See B. ii. c. 106, Vol. I. p. 137, and Note 687. There is little doubt that this was a volcanic, porous product.

2680Fromσάρξ, “flesh,” andφάγω, “to eat.” See B. ii. c. 98. Ajasson identifies it with Alunite, or Alum stone, in its several varieties.

2681Both of them varieties of calcareous tufa, Ajasson thinks.

2682Or Sarcophagus: see the preceding Chapter.

2683Democritus, amongst the ancients, and Savonarola and Cardan, in more recent times, have attributed to stones the powers of reproduction. Vivès speaks of certain diamonds which conceive and fructify; and Avicenna speaks of the selenite or moon-stone of Arabia, which, when suspended from a tree, generates other stones of a similar nature. Tournefort also entertained similar opinions.

2684Fossil teeth of mammiferæ, probably.

2685Fossil animal remains, no doubt.

2686Cneius Pompeius. See B. iii. c. 3.

2687“Palmati.” This is more probably the meaning, than the “human palm,” as Littré renders it. They were fossil impressions of leaves, in all probability.

2688See Chapter43of this Book: also B. iv. cc. 7, 8.

2689Stones so called, possibly, from being found in the vicinity of Cora in Italy: See B. iii. c. 9. These stones are also mentioned by Isidorus, Orig. B. xvi. c. 4.

2690Identified by Ajasson and Desfontaines? with Quartz molar agate, very abundant in this volcanic region of Italy.

2691“Molares.” “Millstone.”

2692Or Serpentine. See Chapter11of this Book.

2693Not the Pyrites of modern Mineralogy, combinations of sulphur with various mineral ores.

2694The Greek for “fire” beingπῦρ.

2695Sulphate of copper, probably, our Chalcopyrite, or yellow copper pyrites.

2696See B. v. c. 35.

2697Or “quick,” “vivos.” Ajasson identifies these with the quartz agates that form our gun-flints, a Chalcedonic variety of Silica.

2698Amadue, or German tinder.

2699Fossil shells of oysters and bivalve mollusks, combined, probably, with Fahlunite or Hydrous Iolite.

2700This is the most delicate variety of Asbestus, a kind of Hornblende: it presents the lustre of satin. As to Asbestus, see B. xix. c. 4, where Pliny has evidently taken it to be a vegetable production.

2701See B. xxxv. c.52.

2702“Earthy” stone. These are either nodules of iron-stone, hollow in the centre, or else round, inorganic masses, hollow, and lined with crystals within. These latter are mostly of a silicious nature.

2703It was, probably, a yellow, argillaceous earth, and it is more probable that it derived its name fromμελὶ, “honey,” in consequence of its colour than by reason of its supposed sweet juices. The Mellite, Mellitite, or Honey-stone of modern Mineralogy, also known as Mellate of Alumina, has its name from its honey-yellow colour. It is found in Thuringia, Moravia, and Bohemia; but most probably was unknown in the days of Pliny.

2704See B. xx. cc. 6, 21.

2705Our jet, which somewhat resembles cannel-coal, and is found in clay soils.

2706See B. v. c. 28, where a place called “Gagæ” is mentioned. In Note 3900 to that Chapter, “gagates” is erroneously rendered “agate.”

2707See B. v. c. 26.

2708This comparison is not inapt, as it is closely akin to Lignite, or brown coal.

2709A bituminous and animal odour, Ajasson says, quite peculiar to itself.

2710He has borrowed this erroneous assertion, probably, from Nicander, who, with Pliny, says the same of the “Thracian stone,” which has not been identified, but is supposed to have been a sort of coal. See B. xxxiii. c.30.

2711This is, probably, the meaning of “sonticus morbus,” a disease, which, according to the jurists, excused those affected with it, from attending in courts of justice.

2712Albertus Magnus, De Mineral. B. ii., says that if it is given in water to a female, it will have a diuretic effect immediately, if she is not in a state of virginity, and that the contrary will be the case if she is.

2713See B. xxx. c. 5. According to Dalechamps, this was practised by placing the jet upon a hatchet at a red heat.

2714“Stone-macerater.” Fromτήκω, to “macerate,” andλιθὸς, “a stone.”

2715Dioscorides says that it was found in Cappadocia also; and both he and Galen attribute to it certain medicinal properties. It was used either for colouring, or else, like fuller’s earth, for taking the grease out of wool and cloth. Ajasson is inclined to think that it was either a volcanic scoria or a Peperite, also of volcanic origin.

2716Or “blood-stone,” mentioned already in Chapter25of this Book.

2717He is evidently speaking here of the red peroxide of iron.

2718Vermilion. See B. xxxiii. c.37.

2719Literally, “split” stone; so called, probably, from its laminated form. Ajasson identifies it with yellow or brown iron ore, known in Mineralogy as Limonite, or Brown Hematite.

2720“Explendis oculorum lacunis.”

2721Mentioned in Chapter25of this Book.

2722Mentioned also in Chapter25. Probably Red peroxide of iron, in a massive form.

2723“All-serviceable,” or “all-heal.”

2724“Man-subduing.”

2725The colour of Specular iron, or red peroxide of iron, being of a dark steel-grey or iron-black, this is probably another variety of it. Ajasson thinks that it includes compact or massive red oxide of iron, and scaly red iron, or red iron froth, which leaves red marks upon the fingers.

2726See Chapter11of this Book. Its alleged attraction of silver and copper is fabulous, no doubt.

2727This is probably the Limonite, or Hydrous peroxide of iron, mentioned in the preceding Chapter. See Note2719above.

2728Identified by Ajasson with Red ochre, or Reddle, a red peroxide of iron, used for red crayons in drawing.

2729“Liver-stone.” Not to be confounded with the Hepatite of modern Mineralogy, or Sulphate of Barytes.

2730“Spleen-stone.”

2731See B. xxxv. c.14.

2732Identified by Ajasson with Laminated protoxide of iron. It has probably an affinity to the variety noticed above, in Notes2719and2727.

2733Owing solely, in all probability, to its name, “blood-stone.”

2734Ajasson is at a loss to know whether this is our Anthracite, a non-bituminous coal, or some kind of bituminous coal. Delafosse takes it to be pit-coal.

2735Or “eagle-stone.” It is a Geodes, mentioned in Chapter23of this Book, a globular mass of clay iron-stone. Sometimes it is hollow within, and sometimes it encloses another stone, or a little water, or some mineral dust.

2736Chapter 4.

2737See B. iv. c. 2.

2738A kind of pumice, Ajasson thinks, or porous feldspathic scoria from volcanos.

2739In B. xxxv. c.53.

2740In Chapter37of this Book.

2741See B. xxiii. cc. 45, 80.

2742Probably of a similar nature to the Samian stone.

2743Pumice is still used as the basis of a dentifrice, but it destroys the enamel of the teeth.

2744See Note2739above.

2745Or “temples of the Muses:” evidently grottos in the present instance.

2746In allusion to the line, “Aridâ modo pumice expolitum”—“Just polished with dry pumice-stone.” Ep. I. l. 2. Both the backs of books and the parchment used for writing were rubbed with pumice.

2747Sec B. v. c. 36.

2748See B. xxxiv. c.22.

2749Hist. B. ix. c. 18.

2750As a preventive of vomiting.

2751“Musta.” Grape-juice in the process of being made into wine.

2752Delafosse suggests that this may have been grey-spotted granite. The name is doubtful, as “Edesian” and “Ephesian” are other readings.

2753In Chapter13of this Book.

2754“Golden stone.” A variety, perhaps, of the Thebaic stone with gold spots, mentioned in Chapter13of this Book.

2755Possibly so called fromΧάλαζα, “hail,” it being, perhaps, a granite with spots like hailstones.

2756Sec Chapters11and33of this Book.

2757In consequence of its extreme hardness.

2758Phœnician stone and Tænarian stone do not appear to have been identified. Parian stone may probably have been white Parian marble.

2759See Chapter12of this Book.

2760Serpentine. See Chapters11and30.

2761See B. iv. cc. 22, 23.

2762Ajasson identifies it with Ollar stone, talc, or soap-stone, a hydrous silicate of magnesia, and nearly allied to the Ophites of Chapters11and30.

2763He being a native of that part of Italy.

2764The Green Colubine Ollar stone; or soap-stone of Italy.

2765See B. iii. c. 21.

2766Identified by Brotero with our Free-stone or grit-stone.

2767So called from its resemblance to the spots on a peacock’s tail. He alludes, probably, to the mode of roofing with tiles cut in the form of scales, still much employed on the continent, and in Switzerland more particularly.

2768Or “Mirror-stone.” Transparent Selenite or gypsum; a sulphate of lime.

2769Now Segorba, in Valentia.

2770Ajasson is of opinion that various kinds of mica and talc are the minerals here alluded to.

2771Fromφεγγὸς, “brightness.” Beckmann is of opinion that this was a calcareous or gypseous spar (Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 66); but Ajasson seems to think that it was very similar to Parian marble, which was sometimes called by this name.

2772This is more likely to apply to a white marble than to a calcareous or gypseous spar. Suetonius says, c. 14, that Domitian, when he suspected that plots were forming against him, caused the porticos in which he walked to be lined with Phengites, which by its reflection showed what was going on behind his back.

Back to Index Next