188 
PLINY S NATURAL HISTORY. 
[Book XIII. 
needle into very thin leaves, due care being taken that they 
should be as broad as possible. That of the first quality is 
taken from the centre of the plant, and so in regular succession, 
according to the order of division. *^ Hieratica"^^ was the name 
that was anciently given to it, from the circumstance that it 
was entirely reserved for the religious books. In later times, 
through a spirit of adulation, it received the name of ^'Au- 
gusta," just as that of second quality was called Liviana,*' 
from his wife, Livia ; the consequence of which was, that the 
name '^hieratica'^ came to designate that of only third-rate 
quality. The paper of the next quality was called am phi- 
theatrica,'* from the locality of its manufacture. The skilful 
manufactory that was established by Fannius^^ at Rome, was in 
the habit of receiving this last kind, and there, by a very 
careful process of insertion, it was rendered much finer ; so 
much so, that from being a common sort, he made it a paper of 
first-rate quality, and gave his own^^ name to it : while that 
which was not subjected to this additional process retained 
its original name of amphitheatrica." Next to this is the 
Saitic paper, so called from the city of that name, where 
it is manufactured in very large quantities, though of cuttings 
of inferior quality. The Tseniotic paper, so called from a 
place in the vicinity,^^ is manufactured from the materials that 
lie nearer to the outside skin ; it is sold, not according to its 
qualit}^, but by weight only. As to the paper that is known 
Or " holy" paper. The priests would not allow it to be sold, lest it 
might be used for profane writing ; but after it was once written upon, it 
was easily procurable. The Romans were in the habit of purchasing it 
largely in the latter state, and then washing off the writing, and using it 
as paper of the finest quality. Hence it received the name of Augustus," 
as representing in Latin its Greek name hieratic us," or " sacred." In 
length of time it became the common impression, as here mentioned, that 
this name was given to it in honour of Augustus Caesar. 
11 Near the amphitheatre, probably, of Alexandria. 
12 He alludes to Q. Remmius Fannius Palsemon, a famous grammarian 
of Rome, though originally a slave. Being manumitted, he opened a school 
at Rome, which was resorted to by great numbers of pupils, notwithstand- 
ing his notoriously bad character. He appears to have established, also, 
a manufactory for paper at Rome. Suetonius, in his treatise on Illustrious 
Grammarians, gives a long account of him. He is supposed to have been 
the preceptor of Quintilian. 
13 Fanniana. i* In Lower Fgypt. 
1^ Ex vilioribus ramentis. i^ Of Alexandria, probably. 
