BOOK XIII. II. 9 13 



rush, flower of salt or else alkanet, and wine. A 



similar method also is used in the case of oil of 



saffron with the addition of cinnabar, alkanet and 



wine, and also a similar method in the case of oil of 



marjoram, by mixing in omphacium and reed ; this 



is best in Cyprus and at Mitylene, where marjoram 



is very plentiful. Also cheaper kinds of oil are 



compounded out of myrtle and laurel with the 



addition of marjoram, lihes, fenugreek, myrrh, casia, 



nard, rush and cinnamon. There is also an oil made 



friim the common quince and the sparrow-quince, 



as we shall say later ; it is called mehnum, and xxiii. 103. 



is used as an ingredient in unguents with a mixture 



of omphacium, oil of cyprus, oil of sesame, balsam, 



rush, casia and southernwood. The most fluid of 



them all is susinum, made of hUcs, oil of behen-nut, 



sweet flag, honey, cinnamon, saffron and myrrh; and 



next is oil of cyprus, made of cyprus, omphacium, car- 



damom, sweet flag, cameFs thorn and southernwood ; 



some people also add oil of cyprus and myrrh and all- 



heal ; the best is that made at Sidon and the 



next best in Egypt. But if oil of sesame is 



added, the mixturc will last as long as four years ; 



and its scent is brought out by the addition of 



cinnamon. 



Unguent of fenugreek is made of fresh olive-oil, 

 cyprus, reed, melilot, fenugreek, honey, cat-thyme 

 and scent of marjoram. This was much the most 

 celebrated unguent in the time of Menander, the 

 author of comcdies ; but afterwards its place was 

 taken by megahum, so called because of its celebrity « ; 

 this was made of behen-nut oil, balsam, reed, rush, 

 wood-balsam, casia and resin. A peculiarity of this 

 unguent is that it must be constantly stirred while 



105 



