224 plt:nt's nattjeal histoet. [Book VII. 



Lydians of Sardis the art of dyeing wool.^^ Closter, the son 

 of Arachne, invented the spindle for spinning wool f^ Arachne 

 herself, linen cloth and nets f Nicias of Megara, the art of 

 fulling cloth f^ and Tychius, the Boeotian, the art of making 

 shoes.^^ The Egyptians will have it that the medical art was 

 first discovered among them, while others attribute it to Ai'abus, 

 the son of Babylonis and Apollo ; botany and pharmacy are 

 ascribed to Chiron, the son of Saturn and Philyra.'^° 



Aristotle supposes that Scythes, the Lydian, was the first 

 to fuse and temper copper, while Theophrastus ascribes the art 

 to Delas, the Phrygian. '^^ Some persons ascribe the working 



^5 It is very difficult, probably impossible, in the present day, to deter- 

 mine to whicb of the nations of antiquity we are indebted for the inven- 

 tion of the art of dyein_^. We have notices of coloured stuffs in various 

 parts of the Pentateuch, and there is reason to suppose, that the art was 

 practised, at a very early period, by the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, and 

 the Indians. They had even arrived at the knowledge of partial dyeing, 

 or what is technically termed "printing," as applied to cotton or linen. — B. 



^6 According to Justin, B. ii. c. 6, the Athenians introduced the use of 

 wool among their countrymen ; but it has been supposed that they learned 

 it from the Egyptians. — B. 



^■^ Arachne is said to have been a native of Hypsepse, near Colophon, in 

 Asia Minor, and has been celebrated for her skill in embroidery by Ovid, 

 Metam. B. vi. As we have sufficient evidence that^ linen was manufactured 

 by the Egyptians at a very early period, we may presume that this ac- 

 count of Arachne is either fabulous, or that, in some way or other, she was 

 instrumental in the introduction of linen into Greece. — B. 



^^ Nothing is known of this individual, nor have we any further infor- 

 mation respecting the discovery ascribed to him. — B. 



69 Homer, II. B. vii. 1. 221, and Ovid, Fasti, B. iii. 1. 824, speak of 

 Tychius, as particularly skilful in making shoes, and other articles of 

 leather.— B. 



''^ It is difficult to determine, how far we are to regard the names here 

 mentioned as belonging to real or only to fictitious personages, nor is it easy 

 for us to ascertain what should be regarded as the actual invention of me- 

 dicine. A certain kind of medical, or rather surgical practice, must have 

 existed in the rudest state of society and in the earliest ages, which was 

 improved and refined by the gradual experience and increased civilization 

 of each successive generation. — B. 



'1 In this, as in so many others of the arts, the original invention has 

 been given to the Egyptians, while the introduction of it into Greece is 

 ascribed to Cadmus. The word ces, which is generally translated " brass," 

 as well as the Greek word x«Xk6c, was applied by the ancients, _ either to 

 copper, or what is properly bronze, i. e. a mixture of copper and tin. Brass, 

 the compound of copper and zinc, does not appear to have been known to 

 them. With respect'to the claim of the Scythians to the discovery of the 

 use of copper, it has been justly remarked, that it is natural to suppose it 



