454 PLISY'S ^ATTTEAJI IIISTOUY. [Book XXXTTTr 



Alps. These stones are well adapted for cutting in relief. 81 

 Murrhitis 85 has just the colour of myrrh, and very little of 

 the appearance of a gem : it has the odour also of an unguent, 

 and smells like nard when rubbed. Myrmccias" 6 is black, and 

 has excrescences upon it like warts. Myrsinitis" has a colour 

 like that of honey, and the smell of myrtle. " ifesoleucos" 8 " 

 is the name given to a stone when a white line runs through 

 the middle ; and when a black vein intersects any other colour, 

 it is called " mesomelas." w 



CHAP. 64. XASAMON1TXS. NEURITIS. VIITAKEXE. 



Nasamonitis is a blood-red stone, marked with black veins. 

 Nebritis, a stone sacred to Father Liber,* has received its name 

 from its resemblance to a nebris. 91 There is also another stone 

 of this kind, that is black. Ittpparene 92 bears the name of a 

 city and people of Persia, and resembles the teeth of the hip- 

 popotamus. 



CHAP. G5. OICA. OMBRIA OR NOTIA. ONOCARDIA. ORITIS OR 

 SIDERITIS. OSTRACIAS. OSTRITIS. OPI1ICARDELOX. OBSIAN 

 STONE. 



Oica is the barbarian name given to a stone which is pleas- 

 ing for its colours, black, reddish yellow, green, and white. 

 Ombria, 93 by some called notia," M falls with showers and 

 lightning, much in the same manner as ceraunia w and bron- 

 tea/" 6 the properties of which it is said to possess. There is a 

 statement also, that if this stone is placed upon altars it will 

 prevent the offerings from being consumed. Onocardia 9 ** is 

 like keriLesberry in appearance, but nothing further is said 

 about it. Oritis, 67 by eome called " sideritis," M is a stone of 



M " Ectypae sculpturoe." See B. xixv. c. 43. 



w " Myrrh stone." It was an Eastern compound, probably. Sec 

 Chapter 54, Note 25. M " Wart stone." * " Myrtle stone." 



b * " White in the middle." This nnd the next seen, to have been 

 general names for stones of a particular appearance. 



b * Black in the middle." Bacchus. 



91 A Greek word, signifying the skin of a fawn or deer, as worn by the 

 Bacchanals in the celebration of their orgies. Ajasson is of opinion that 

 this was a mottled quartz or ngate, similar to those .mentioned as resembling 

 the spots of the lion, in Chapter 54, the Loontios and 1'ardalios of Chapter 73. 



92 This reading is doubtful. 9t " Shower stone," apparently. 

 ** From "Notus," the south, wind, which usually brought rain. 



** See Chapters 48 and 51. vs See Chapter 55 of this Book. 



n " ' 4 Ass's heart." V7 ' Mountain stone." " See Chapter 67. 



