Chap. 24.] THE FIRST STATUES OF GOLD. 105 



of tho orpimcnt itself was no more than four denarii per pound. 

 Since his time, the experiment has never been repeated. 



CHAP. 23. ELKCTJIUM. 



In all 57 gold ore there is some silver, in varying proportions ; 

 a tenth part in some instances, an eighth in others. In one 

 mine, and that only, the one known as the mine of Albuerara, 

 in Gallajcia, 6 * the proportion of silver is but one thirty-sixth : 

 hence it is that the ore of this mine is so much mere valuable 

 than that of others. Whenever the proportion of silver is one- 

 fifth, the ore is kno\vn also by the name of " eleetrum;"* grains, 

 too, of this metal arc often found in the gold known as "canali- 

 cnse." 60 An artificial* 1 electrum, too, is made, by mixing 

 silver with gold. If the proportion of silver exceeds one-iifth, 

 the metal offers no resistance on the anvil. 



Klectrum, too, was highly esteemed in ancient times, as \ve 

 learn from the testimony of Homer, who represents'- tho palaco 

 of Menclaiis as refulgent with gold and electrum, silver and 

 ivory. At Lindos, in the island of Rhodes, there is a temple 

 dedicated to .Minerva, in which there is a goblet of electrum, 

 consecrated Ly Helena: history states also that it was moulded 

 after the proportions of her bosom. One peculiar advantage 

 of electrum is, its superior brilliancy to silver by lamp-light. 

 Native elect rum has also the property of detecting poisons; 

 for in such case, semicircles, resembling the rainbow in appear- 

 ance, will form upon the surface of the goblet, and emit a 

 crackling noise, like that of Hume, thus givug a twofold indica- 

 tion of the presence of poison. 63 



CHAP. 24. THE riltST STATUES OF COLD. 



Tho first statue of massive gold, without any hollowness 

 \vithin, and anterior to any of those statues of bronze even, 

 which are known as "holosphyratoc,"' 4 is said to have been 



M This is almost, but not quite, universally the cnso. 



M In Spain. See 1?. iii. c. 4, li. iv. c. 34, and 1*. ix. c. 2. Tho locality 

 alluded to is now unknown. 



w A nann: also gi'vrii ly tho ancients to aniher. Artificial u electrutii," 

 or poM ulloyed \vith .silver, was known in the nio.st ancient times. 



00 The old found by sinking shafts. See Chapter lil. 



cl Seo H. ix. c. r,. r >. <).]. H. iv. 1. 71. 



63 riiny no doubt has bc^n imposed upon in this instance. 



u 4t Solid bainmer-woik,"iu opposition to works iu metal, cast and hollow 

 within. 



