The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6) by the Elder Pliny

[3354] “Variegated with white.” [3355] “Yellow incense.” [3356] “Meadow-green stone.” [3357] “Fat stone.” [3358] “White gold.” Ajasson thinks that this may have been either a sub-variety of Hyalin amethystine quartz, a yellow quartz or false topaz, or else an unctuous, white quartz, either opaque or transparent. [3359] “Stone of Memnon.” [3360] This reading seems preferable to “Media,” given by the Bamberg and some other MSS. [3361] The enchantress of Colchis. The stone, no doubt was as fabulous as the enchantress. [3362] “Poppy stone.” [3363] For the origin of this name, see “Eumithres,” in Chapter 58, Note 3307. [3364] It was probably a kind of Opal. [3365] The reading here is very doubtful. [3366] This reading also is doubtful: it is probably an Eastern word. According to some authorities, this stone was a dark-brown rock crystal. Ajasson identities it with Schorl or black Tourmaline, with a base of Magnesia. [3367] Red Tourmaline, possibly, or Rubellite. [3368] Carnelian. See Chapter 31 of this Book. [3369] “Ectypæ sculpturæ.” See B. xxxv. c. 43. [3370] “Myrrh stone.” It was an Eastern compound, probably. See Chapter 54, Note 3211. [3371] “Wart stone.” [3372] “Myrtle stone.” [3373] “White in the middle.” This and the next seem to have been general names for stones of a particular appearance. [3374] “Black in the middle.” [3375] Bacchus. [3376] A Greek word, signifying the skin of a fawn or deer, as worn by the Bacchanals in the celebration of their orgies. Ajasson is of opinion that this was a mottled quartz or agate, similar to those mentioned as resembling the spots of the lion, in Chapter 54, the Leontios and Pardalios of Chapter 73. [3377] This reading is doubtful. [3378] “Shower stone,” apparently. [3379] From “Notus,” the south wind, which usually brought rain. [3380] See Chapters 48 and 51. [3381] See Chapter 55 of this Book. [3382] “Ass’s heart.” [3383] “Mountain stone.” [3384] See Chapter 67. [3385] “Shell-stone.” Not the same, probably, as the Cadmitis or Ostracitis mentioned in Chapter 56 of this Book. See B. xxxvi. c. 31, where a stone of this name is also mentioned. Horn-stone, probably, a Chalcedony, more brittle than flint, is meant in the present passage. [3386] See Chapter 56 of this Book. [3387] See the beginning of Chapter 54. [3388] “Oyster-stone.” [3389] See B. xxxvi. chap. 67; our “Obsidian.” [3390] “Of all colours.” Either Opal, Ajasson thinks, or Iridized hyalin quartz. [3391] “All corners.” Ajasson seems to think that this may have been Hyalin quartz. [3392] “Worthy of all love.” [3393] Of the same meaning as “paneros.” [3394] “Gem of Pontus.” According to Desfontaines, these stones are identified, by some with agates, by others with sapphires. [3395] “Flame-coloured.” [3396] “Golden-coloured stone.” [3397] See B. xxxiii. c. 56, and B. xxxv. cc. 12, 16. [3398] “Palm-date stone. Desfontaines says that this is Jew stone, the fossil spine of an egg-shaped echinus. See Chapter 55, Note 3241. [3399] Φῦκος; whence the Latin “fucus.” [3400] “White around.” [3401] An Aëtites or Geodes, probably. See Chapter 56, Note 3278; also B. xxx. c. 44, and B. xxxvi. cc. 32, 39. [3402] “Earth stone,” apparently. [3403] The tomb of Tiresias was ordinarily pointed out in the vicinity of the Tilphusan Well, near Thebes; at least Pausanias states to that effect. [3404] “Gem of the Sun.” According to some, this is the Girasol opal; but Ajasson has no doubt, from the description given of it by Photius, from Damascius, that it is identical with the “Asteria” of Chapter 47. See also the “Astrion” of Chapter 48. [3405] Supposed to be jet. [3406] “Lizard stone.” [3407] “Flesh stone.” [3408] “Moon stone.” Our Selenite probably, crystallized sulphate of lime] the thin laminæ of which reflect the disk of the sun or moon. [3409] “Stone like iron.” See “Oritis” in Chapter 65; also B. xxxvi. c. 25, and Chapter 15 of this Book, for minerals of this name. [3410] “Variegated iron.” [3411] So called from its teeth meeting evenly, like the jaw-teeth, and not shaped like those of a saw, so formed that the teeth of one jaw lock with those of the other. See B. xi. c. 5. The Linnæan genus Sparus is of this kind. [3412] See B. v. cc. 4, 5, and B. vi. c. 37. [3413] “Fistulous stone.” [3414] “Three-coloured stone.” [3415] Meaning “Female root,” apparently. The reading, however, is uncertain. [3416] “Female heart,” apparently. The reading is doubtful. [3417] “Thracian stone.” The reading, however, is doubtful. [3418] “Ash-coloured stone.” It has been identified with Uranian agate by some. [3419] “Dissolving stone.” Probably our Jew stone, and identical with the Phœnicitis of Chapter 66. See Note 3398. [3420] “Venus’ hair.” As Ajasson remarks, the description renders it next to impossible to say what the stone was. [3421] “Liver stone.” Heavy spar, a sulphate of barytes, is sometimes called Hepatite. [3422] “Fat stone.” Saponite or soapstone, a silicate of magnesia, is also known as Steatite. [3423] An ancient king of Syria, worshipped by the people of that country and the inhabitants of Phrygia. According to Macrobius, the Assyrians worshipped Jupiter and the Sun under this name. [3424] “Three-eye stone.” Some kind of Cat’s eye chalcedony, probably. [3425] “Crab stone.” [3426] “Viper-stone.” [3427] “Scorpion stone.” [3428] See B. ix. c. 29, B. xl. c. 61, and B. xxxii. c. 53. This was perhaps the same stone as the “Synodontitis” of Chapter 67. [3429] Which was called τριγλὰ, in Greek. [3430] “Ant stone.” Possibly a kind of amber. [3431] “Beetle stone.” [3432] “Wolf’s eye.” [3433] “Peacock stone.” [3434] “Golden sand.” This may possibly have been Aventurine quartz. [3435] “Millet stone.” [3436] “Oak stone.” Fossil coal, perhaps. [3437] “Ivy stone.” [3438] “Daffodil stone.” An Eastern compound, probably. [3439] “Bean stone.” [3440] Our “Jew stone,” probably; identical with the Phœnicitis of