Chapter 400

2908In reference to the story of Œdipus and the Sphinx.

2909A Greek word, signifying a “repository of kings.”

2910See B. xxxvi. c.24.

2911The sister of Augustus.

2912See B. xxxiii c.53.

2913See B. xxxiv. c.8.

2914“Acta.”

2915Chapter7.

2916A.U.C.693.

291730th of September.

2918“Alveum lusorium.”

2919Probably meaning a shrine dedicated to the Muses.

2920See B. ii. c. 78, and B. vii. c. 60.

2921That of Africa.

2922See B. vii. c. 27.

2923As was the case, after the murder of Pompey in Egypt.

2924Caligula.

2925Modern writers differ as to the material of which these vessels were composed. Some think that they were of variegated glass, and others of onyx; but the more general opinion is, that they were Chinese porcelain, and we have the line in Propertius, B. iv. El. 5, l. 26. “And murrhine vessels baked on Parthian hearths.” Ajasson is of opinion, from the description given by Pliny, that these vessels were made of Fluor spar, or fluate of lime. “Myrrhine” is another reading of the word.

2926“Ante hos annos.” Sillig is of opinion that the reading here should be “L. Annius,” and that L. Annius Bassus, who was Consul suffectus in the year 70A.D., is the person referred to; or possibly, T. Arrius Antoninus, who was Consul suffectus,A.D.69.

2927The Gardens of Nero, in the Fourteenth Region of the City.

2928He had been formerly a sharer in the debaucheries of Nero. Tacitus called him “Caius.”

2929See B. vi. cc. 27, 28, 32.

2930Ajasson is of opinion that this passage bears reference to crystallization. Both he and Desfontaines see in the present Chapter a very exact description of Fluor spar; and there is certainly great difficulty in recognizing any affinity between murrhine vessels, as here described, and porcelain.

2931“Abacus.”

2932In the precedingChapter.

2933Meaning that they are semitransparent, Ajasson thinks. One great characteristic of Fluor spar is its being subtranslucent.

2934This would appear to be the meaning here of “sales.” See p.396.

2935One of the grounds, Ajasson says, on which may be based the opinion that they were artificial.

2936Colourless crystals, quartz, or rock crystal; called “white stone” in jewellery.

2937See B. xxxvi. c.45. This was a very general opinion of the ancients with respect to crystal.

2938Κρύσταλλος, fromκρύος, “cold.”

2939See B. v. c. 29.

2940In Caria, see B. v. c. 29.

2941The Island “of the dead.” Brotero supposes it to be the island of Maceira.

2942See B. vi. c. 34. As Ajasson remarks, there could be no snow or ice here.

2943See B. iv. c. 35.

2944Dioscorides attributes the hardening of crystal to the action of the sun.

2945“Its shape is rhombohedral, and hemihedral in some of its modifications. The planes on the angles between the prism and pyramidal terminations, incline sometimes to the right, and sometimes to the left, and the crystals are termed right and left-handed crystals.”—Dana,System of Mineralogy, Art.Quartz.

2946Ajasson remarks that blocks have been found in Switzerland, weighing above eight hundred pounds.

2947Forty-eight sextarii. See Introduction to Vol. III.

2948This “vomica,” Ajasson says, is either water, azote, rarified oxygen, or water in combination with naphtha.

2949“Centra,” knots, or flaws. See B. xvi. c. 76, where he speaks of the “centra” in marble. See also Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. I. p. 471.Bohn’s Edition.

2950“Sale.” See Note2934above.

2951“Without flaw.”

2952See B. xxxvi. c.67.

2953“Succinum.” It is of vegetable origin, and, according to Göppert, was originally the viscous resin of a tree named by himPinites succinifer.

2954It is used by men, more particularly, at the present day, as a mouthpiece for pipes.

2955As to thevegetableorigin of amber, there is no doubt that the ancients were right.

2956Most probably fromἥλιος, the “sun.” Phaëthon was fabled to have been the son of Apollo. See the story in Ovid’s Met. B. ii. l. 340,et seq.

2957Where amber was not to be found.

2958In reality, these “Amber Islands” were situate at the mouth of the Vistula, into which the Radanus discharged itself; a river whose name was afterwards confounded with “Eridanus,” the ancient name of the Padus, or Po. See B. iv. cc. 27, 30, as to the produce of amber in the Baltic.

2959Another reference to its vegetable origin.

2960De Lapid. n. 53.

2961In confirmation of this, Ajasson remarks that amber is found at Saint Paulet in the Department Du Gard, and at Aix, in the Department of Bouches-du-Rhône, regions not very distant from the territory of ancient Liguria.

2962It has been supposed by some that this in reality was Tourmaline, and Woodward has identified it with Belemnites. See Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. I. p. 86.Bohn’s Edition.See further as to “Lyncurium,” B. viii. c. 57, and Chapter13of this Book.

2963See B. iv. c. 28.

2964See B. iv. c. 27.

2965Said in reference to the electric spark, Ajasson thinks.

2966In Hebrew, this word means “a stone.”

2967From the Greekἁρπάζω, “to drag.”

2968See B. x. c. 38.

2969All this is based, Ajasson thinks, upon the stories of Hindoo mythology.

2970The old reading is “Osericta:” Ajasson identifies it with the island of Oësel in the Baltic.

2971See B. x. c. 38.

2972See B. iv. cc. 27, 30, and the Notes.

2973See B. iv. c. 30.

2974It is just possible that the Pinites succinifer may have still existed, to some extent, eighteen hundred years ago. See Note2953above.

2975From “succus,” “juice.”

2976Goitre, for example.

2977The projecting part in the Circus or Amphitheatre, next the arena, and immediately in front of the place occupied by the emperor and nobles.

2978The knots, probably, were adorned with studs or buttons of amber.

2979“Libitina.” Meaning the litters on which the slain gladiators were carried away from the arena.

2980Martial has three Epigrams on Insects enclosed in amber; B. iv. Ep. 32 and 59, and B. vi. Ep. 15.

2981These so-called kinds or varieties are mostly accidental variations only in appearance.

2982Which is perceptible on its being rubbed: in some cases the odour of amber is very fine, in others it is perfectly fetid; though in the latter case, as Ajasson remarks, it is doubtful whether it may be considered to be genuine amber.

2983“Lini.” Salmasius suggests “pini,” “pith of pine.”

2984“Golden amber.” Brotero thinks that this must have been Hyacinth or Zirconite of a yellowish white colour. Ajasson says that the description would equally apply to Idocrase, Meionite, or Harmotome.

2985See Note2962, above. Brotero identifies it with orange-coloured Hyacinth; Ajasson and Desfontaines with Tourmaline. Ajasson suggests, also, that the first syllabic in its name—Lync, may have been derived from the SanscritLanka, the name of Ceylon, one of the localities where the Tourmaline is chiefly found.

2986Ajasson thinks that Rubellite or Red Tourmaline is here alluded to.

2987This is the case with tourmaline when subjected to heat.

2988We may here remark, that throughout this Book, in all cases where there is any doubt as to the identification of the substance, the ancient name is retained. Hence our words “adamant” and “diamond.” If Pliny means the latter, which is doubtful, it still maintains the rank here assigned to it. The word “adamas” is supposed to be derived from the Greekἀ, privative, andδαμάω, “to subdue,” it being supposed to be invincible by fire. The diamond is pure carbon crystallized, and is thought to have been of vegetable origin. Dana has the following remarks upon the word “adamas.”—“This name was applied by the ancients to several minerals differing much in their physical properties. A few of these are quartz, specular iron ore, emery, and other substances of rather high degrees of hardness, which cannot now be identified. It is doubtful whether Pliny had any acquaintance with the real diamond.”—System of Mineralogy, Art.Diamond. We may also add, from the same authority, that the method of polishing diamonds was first discovered in 1456, by Louis Berquen, a citizen of Bruges, previous to which time the diamond was only known in its native uncut state.

2989This statement cannot apply to the “diamond” as known to us, though occasionally grains of gold have been found in the vicinity of the diamond.

2990Ajasson is of opinion that the Æthiopia here mentioned is in reality India, and that the “Temple of Mercury” means theBrahmaloka, or Temple of Brahma.

2991The diamond, as known to us, is octahedral.

2992Though found in comparative abundance in India, the diamond is not found in Arabia.

2993This is not the case with the diamond; for on being struck under such circumstances, it will break.

2994In reality, the diamond will burn, and, at a temperature of 14° Wedgewood, is wholly consumed, producing carbonic acid gas.

2995See Note2988, above.

2996“Millet-seed.”

2997Ajasson says, that no doubt this adamas was Adamantine, or limpid Corundum.

2998Ajasson suggests that this may have been Dichroite, or Cordierite, known also as Iolite, or Water sapphire.

2999Possibly the Siderite, sparry iron, or spathic iron of modern Mineralogy. Ajasson is inclined to think that it is Corundum, of a dark hue.

3000See B. xx. c. 1, B. xxviii. cc. 23, 41, and B. xxxii. c.12.

3001Brotero thinks that this was a story invented by the dealers, with a view of concealing the real method of breaking the stone.

3002Said, probably, with reference to the rank, nauseous smell of the he-goat.

3003This is true with reference to the diamond, and, in a less degree, several other crystalline substances, emery and quartz, for example.

3004Ajasson remarks, that if the diamond is placed in the magnetic line or current of the loadstone, it attracts iron equally with the loadstone, and consequently neutralizes the attractive power of the loadstone in a considerable degree.

3005The reading is very doubtful here. This word, as it is here given, would appear to be derived from the Greekἀprivative, andἄγχομαι, “to strangle oneself,” and to mean, “preventive of suicide.”

3006See B. iv. c. 27, and Chapter11of this Book.

3007At the present day the ruby is next in esteem to the diamond.

3008Chapter54,et seq.

3009The Emerald, and various other green precious stones, were included under this name.

3010“Virentes” seems a very preferable reading to “silentes,” as given by the Bamberg MS.

3011The emerald is supposed to derive this colour from a minute portion of oxide of chrome.

3012Engraved emeralds are but seldom found among collections of ancient gems. In 1593, there was one found in the tomb of Maria, daughter of Stilicho, in the Vatican, with the head of Honorius, her husband, engraved upon it.

3013“It may here be objected that real emeralds are too small to admit of being used as mirrors; but the ancients speak of some sufficiently large for that purpose, and also of artificial ones; so that we may with certainty conclude, that they classed among the emeralds fluor spar, green vitrified lava, or the green Icelandic agate, as it is called, green jasper, and also green glass.”—Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 67.Bohn’s Edition.It has also been suggested, with reference to this passage, that Nero was short-sighted, and that this emerald was formed like a concave lens. The passage, however, will hardly support such a construction. Ajasson thinks that it must have been a Dioptase or Siberian emerald; or else a green Corundum.

3014Ajasson is of opinion that the Dioptase, Siberian emerald, or Malachite emerald is meant.

3015Ajasson thinks that this may be the Dioptase or Achirite of Chinese Bucharia; and that the merchant Achir Mahmed, from whom it takes its name, was by no means the first to introduce it, or to circulate his wonderful stories as to its formation.

3016See B. ii. cc. 47, 48, and B. xviii. c. 74.

3017Mount Zalora. in Upper Egypt, still produces emeralds, and was probably the only locality of thegenuinestone that was known to the ancients.

3018“Cetarias.”

3019Ajasson remarks that the greater part of the defects here described belong in reality to the Dioptase.

3020“Sal.” See Chapters8,10,22, and37, of this Book.

3021Ajasson is of opinion that Diallage is here meant, known also by the names of Bronzite, schillerspath, schillerstein, and omphasite.

3022See B. iv. c. 11.

3023“In sole” seems a preferable reading to “in solo,” “on the ground,” as given by the Bamberg MS.

3024See Chapter39of this Book; where it will be shown that this probably is not the modern Sapphire.

3025Ajasson suggests that these may have been Quartz agates of the dendritic or arborized kind.

3026He probably alludes here to some variety of the Chalcedony or Opal quartz.

3027Said with reference to Chrysoprase, Ajasson thinks; a leek-green chalcedony, coloured by nickel.

3028Probably the Cacholong of modern mineralogy, a variety of opal, nearly opaque, and of a porcelain or bluish white colour.

3029Ajasson and Brotero identify this with milk-white chalcedony; but on what authority, does not appear.

3030See B. iv. c. 8.

3031Supposed by Ajasson to be the Euclase, a brittle green stone, composed of silica, alumina, and glucina. Haüy gave it this name from the Greek wordsεὖ, “easily” andκλάω, “to break.” According to Dana, however, Euclase was first brought from Peru: if such is the fact, we must, perhaps, look for its identification in Epidote, a green silicate of alumina.

3032“Brazen smaragdus.” It was probably Dioptase, combined with copper Pyrites. See Notes3013,3014, and3015, above.

3033With reference to this statement and the others in this Chapter, Ajasson remarks that these stones can have been nothing but prases, green jaspers, fusible spaths, emerald quartz, and fluates of lime.

3034Herodotus mentions this smaragdus and the temple, B. ii. c. 44, as having been seen by himself.

3035“Iaspis.” See Chapter37of this Book.

3036Meaning “the conqueror of many,” probably; in reference to his contentious disposition. See end of B. xxx.

3037The Beryl and the Emerald are only varieties of the same species, the latter owing its colour to oxide of chrome, the former to oxide of iron.

3038The best Beryls are found in Siberia, Hindostan, Brazil, and the United States.

3039The crystals are naturally hexagonal.

3040Hence the name of the sky-blue, or mountain-green beryl,aquamarine.

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