Chap. 57.] DRAC051TI8. 447 



native of ./Ethiopia, and is pale by day, but of a fiery lustre by 

 night. Chrysopis* has all the appearance of gold. 4 Ceponides* 

 is found at Atarna, a borough, and once a city, of JEolis. It 

 is transparent, presents numerous tints, and has sometimes the 

 oppearance of glass, sometimes of crystal, and sometimes of 

 iaspis. Indeed, the stones of this kind that are tarnished even, 

 nre possessed of such singular brilliancy as to reflect objects 

 like a mirror. 



CIJAl*. 57. DAPIINEA. PIADOCIIOS. DIP11YES. DIONfSIAS. 



DUACON1TI8, 



Daphnea 7 is mentioned by Zoroaster as curative of epilepsy. 

 Diadochos* is a stone that resembles the beryl. Of ^iiphye* 9 

 there are two kinds, the white and the black, male and female,' 

 iv ith a line dividing the characteristics of either sex. Lionysias 10 

 is hard and black, and covered with red spots. Triturated in 

 water, this stone imparts to it the flavour of wine, and it is 

 p-iHTally thought to be a preservative against intoxication. 

 Ih'uconitis 11 or dracontia is a stone produced from the brain of 

 the dragon; 12 but unless the head of the animal is cut ofU 

 while it is alive, the stone will not assume the form of a gem, 

 through spite on the part of the serpent, when finding itself at 

 the jwint of death : hence it is that, for this purpose, the head 

 is cut oiF when it is asleep. 13 



Sotacus, who tells us that he once saw a stone of this kind in 

 the possession of a king, says that persons go in search of it in 

 a chariot drawn by two horses ; and that, the moment tluy see 

 the serpent, they strew narcotic drugs in its way, and then cut 

 oil'- its head when asleep. According to him, this stone is 

 white and pellucid, and admits of no polishing or engraving. 



phosphate of lead, which emitted litjht at night, from its close vicinity t< 

 i. aphtha. ]!ologii:i stone, liolo^nian spur, or sulphate of Burytes, ha* also 

 bc;n suggested. Top;!/, too, is mentioned. * ** Golden face.*' 



6 A variety of ]l)aeinth, according to Duleohamps. 



6 From Kqn-oci "a garden," it is thought; on account of iu varied 

 colours. 



7 "Laurel-stone." 8 " Substitute" for beryl. 



9 " Two-formid," or "of a douhle nature." A grand acquisition, ns 

 Ajasson remarks, lor the worshippers of 1'riapus. See a similar character- 

 istic in the . Kryiigiiun,oiir Kriiigo, H. xxii. c. 9 : al^o Mandragora, B. xxv. 

 c. '.U. Note 7o'. 10 " Stone of Dionysus" or ^Bacchus." 



n '* Dragon stone." 



12 The serpent so ciille.l u draco." See T5. xxix. c. 20. 



1:1 A story invented, no douht, by the sellers of some kind of precious 

 stone. 



