432 PLTNy's Natubal HISTOET. [Book XXXVII. 



fifteen inclies in length, of which a figure of Nero was made, 

 armed with a cuirass. 



CHAP. 38. CYANOS ; THE SEVERAL VAEIETIKS OF IT. 



"We must also give a separate account of cyanos,^^ a name 

 which, until very recently, was given to a species of iaspis, 

 on account of its caerulean colour. The best kind is that of 

 Scythia,'^*' the next best being the produce of Cyprus, and, last 

 of all, that of Egypt. An artificiaF^ kind is much in use, 

 that is prepared by dyeing other substances; and this inven- 

 tion is looked upon as one of the great glories of the kings 

 of Egypt, the name of the king who first discovered it being 

 still preserved in their annals. This stone, too, is divided into 

 male and female, and sometimes it has the appearance of being 

 powdered with a golden dust, in much the same way as sap- 

 phires. 



CHAP. 39. SAPPHTEOS. 



For sapphires, '- too, is refulgent with spots'^ like gold. It is 

 also of an azure colour, though sometimes, but rarely, it is pur- 

 ple ; the best kind being that which comes from Media. In no 

 case, however, is this stone diaphanous ; in addition to which, 

 it is not suited for engraving when intersected with hard par- 

 ticles of a crystalline'''* nature. Those among them that have 

 the colour of cyanos are generally thouglit to be the male stones. 



CHAP. 40. AMETHTSTOS ; FOUR VARIETIES OF IT. SOCONDIOX. 



SAPENOS. PHARANITIS. APHRODITES BLEPHAROIN', ANTEHOS, OK 

 P^DEKOS. 



We will now commence with another class of precious stones, 



may also remark, that the " iaspis " of Pliny probably included some stones 

 not of the jasper kind. 



63 " Azure stone ;" generally supposed to hare been a species of Lapis 

 lazuli or azure. Beckmann is of opinion that it was a mineral or moun- 

 tain blue, tinged with copper. 



'0 It is found in China, Persia, Siberia, and Bucharia. 



■"1 Ulti-amarine is prepared from Lapis lazuli, and an artificial kind is 

 extensively in use, which equals the native in permanency and brilliancy 

 of colour, and is very extensively employed in the arts. Theophrastus, 

 De Lapid, sec. 55, speaks of this artificial ultramarine. 



72 This must not be taken for the Sapphire of the present day, but was 

 most probably Lapis lazuli, and identical, perhaps, with Cyanos. Beck- 

 mann has devoted considerable attention to this subject ; Hist. Inv. Vol. 1. 

 pp. 468—473. Bohn's Edition. 



J'^ Particles of iron pyrites, probably, which are frequently to be seen 

 m Lapis lazuli, ''* Quartz, probably, according to EOine authorities. 



