Chap. 27.] THE USE MADE OF CHETSOCOLLA. 109 



being dissolved for use by evaporation.^^ Both these kinds 

 are prepared in Cyprus, ^^ but the most esteemed is that made 

 in Armenia, the next best being that of Macedonia : it is Spain, 

 however, that produces the most. The great point of its ex- 

 cellence consists in its producing exactly the tint of corn when 

 in a state of the freshest verdure.^* Before now, we have seen, 

 at the spectacles exhibited by the Emperor Nero, the arena of 

 the Circus entirely sanded with chrysocoUa, when the prince 

 himself, clad in a dress of the same colour, was about to exhibit 

 as a charioteer.^^ 



The unlearned multitude of artisans distinguish three 

 kinds of chrysocolla ; the rough chrysocoUa, which is valued 

 at seven denarii per pound ; the middling, worth five denarii ; 

 and the bruised, also known as the ''herbaceous" chryso- 

 colla, worth three denarii per pound. Before laying on the 

 sanded ^^ chrysocolla, they underlay coats of atramentum^' 

 and parastonium,^^ substances which make it hold, and im- 

 part a softness to the colours. The parsetonium, as it is 

 naturally very unctuous, and, from its smoothness, extremely 

 tenacious, is laid on first, and is then covered with a coat of 

 atramentum, lest the pareetonium, from its extreme whiteness, 

 should impart a paleness to the chrysocolla. The kind known 

 as " lutea," derives its name, it is thought, from the plant 

 called " lutum ;" which itself is often pounded with caeru- 

 leum^^ instead of real chrysocolla, and used for painting, 



present Chapter, and Chapter 57 of this Book. Littre renders the words 

 ♦'in lomentum," kept "in the form of powder," without reference to the 

 peculiar pigment known as *' lomentum." ^^ «« Sudore resolutis." 



83 A strong proof that chrysocolla was a preparation from copper, and 

 not cobalt. Copper owes its name to the Isle of Cyprus, in which it \va,3 

 found in great abundance. See Beckmann's Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 480. 

 Bohn's Edition. 



^* The colour now known by painters as Emerald green. 



^5 As a " trigarius." See B. xxviii. c. 72, and B. xxix. c. 5. From 

 Suetonius, c. 18, we learn that the Emperor Caligula, also, had the Circus 

 Banded with minium and chrysocolla. Ajasson is of opinion that the 

 chrysocolla thus employed was a kind of yellow mica or talc. 



86 « Ai-enosam." He alludes, probably, to the kind previously mentioned 

 as " asp era " or "rough chrysocolla." 



8' For its identification, see B. xxxiv. cc. 26, 32. 



88 See B. XXXV. cc. 12, 18. 



69 Making a spurious kind of ''lomentum," possibly, a pigment men- 

 tioned in c. 57 of this Book. This passage seems to throw some light, 

 upon the words " in lomepitum," commented upon in Note 81 above. 



