432 PLINY'S NATUHAL HlSTORf. [Book XXXVtl, 



fifteen inches ia length, of which a figure of Xero was made, 

 armed with a cuirass. 



CHAP. 38. CYANOS ; TOE SEVKUAL VAUIRTIKS OF IT. 



"We must also give a separate account of cyanos, c9 a name 

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

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

 Scythia, 70 the next best being the produce of Cyprus, and, last 

 of all, that of Egypt. An artificial 71 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- 

 phiros. 



CHAP. 39. - SAPPI1IKOS. 



For sapphiros, 72 too, is refulgent with spots 73 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 74 nature. Those among them that have 

 the colour of cyauos are generally thought to be the male stones. 



CHAP. 40. - AMETHTSTOS; FOUR VAKIKT1ES OF IT. SOCONDIOX. 

 SAPKNOS. PIIARANITIS. APHRODITES BLKPJJAIIOX, ANTKKOS, OK 



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. 



69 ** Azure stone ;" generally supposed to have been a species of Lapis 

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

 tain blue, tinged with copper. 



70 It is found in China, Persia, Siberia, and Bucharia. 



" J Ultramarine is prepared from Lnpis lazuli, and an artificial kind is 

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

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

 IK- Lauid. sec. 55, speaks of this artificial ultramarine. 



: - This must not be taken for the Sapphire of the present day, but w.is 

 most probably I^apis lazuli, and identical, perhaps, with (.'yarios. Meck- 

 r.iaun has devoted considerable attention to this subject; Ilibt. Inv. Vol. 1. 

 | .p. 4;S 473. Jlo/tn's frtilion. 



71 Partieles of iron pyrites, probably, which arc frequently to be seen 

 in Lapis lazuli. 74 Quartz, probably, according to eome authorities. 



