I'S8 PLIXX'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XIII. 



needle into very thin leaves, due care being taken that they 

 should be as broad as possible. That of the first quality is 

 taken from the centre of the plant, and so in regular succession, 

 according to the order of division. " Hieratica" 10 was the name 

 that was anciently given to it, from the circumstance that it 

 was entirely reserved for the religious books. In later times, 

 through a spirit of adulation, it received the name of " Au- 

 gusta," Just as that of second quality was called " Liviana," 

 from his wife, Livia ; the consequence of which was, that the 

 name " hieratica" came to designate that of only third-rate 

 quality. The paper of the next quality was called " amphi- 

 theatrica," from the locality 11 of its manufacture. The skilful 

 manufactory that was established by Fannius 12 at Rome, was in 

 the habit of receiving this last kind, and there, by a very 

 careful process of insertion, it was rendered much finer ; so 

 much so, that from being a common sort, he made it a paper of 

 first-rate quality, and gave his own 13 name to it: while that 

 which was not subjected to this additional process retained 

 its_ original name of " amphitheatrica." Next to this is the 

 Saitic paper, so called from the city of that name, u where 

 it is manufactured in very large quantities, though of cuttings 

 of inferior 15 quality. The Taeniotic paper, so called from a 

 place in the vicinity, 16 is manufactured from the materials that 

 lie nearer to the outside skin ; it is sold, riot according to its 

 quality, but by weight only. As to the paper that is known 



10 Or " holy " paper. The priests would not allow it to be sold, lest it 

 might be used for profane writing ; but after it was once written upon, it 

 was easily procurable. The Romans were in the habit of purchasing it 

 largely in the latter state, and then washing off the writing, and using it 

 as paper of the finest quality. Hence it received the name of "Augustus," 

 as representing _ in Latin its Greek name " hieraticus," or "sacred." In 

 length of time it became the common impression, as here mentioned, that 

 this name was given to it in honour of Augustus Caesar. 



11 Near the amphitheatre, probably, of Alexandria. 



12 He alludes to Q,. Remmius Fannius Palaemon, a famous grammarian 

 of Rome, though originally a slave. Being manumitted, he opened a school 

 at Rome, which was resorted to by great numbers of pupils, notwithstand- 

 ing his notoriously bad character. He appears to have established, also, 

 a manufactory for paper at Rome. Suetonius, in his treatise on Illustrious 

 Grammarians, gives a long account of him. He is supposed to have been 

 the preceptor of Quintilian. 



13 Fanniana. " In Lower Egypt. 



15 Ex vilioribus ramentis. 1G Of Alexandria, probably. 



