The cloth called Bombycina, derives its name from the silk-worm (Bombyx), which emits very long threads; the web woven from them is called Bombycinum, and is made in the island of Cos.
That called Serica derives its name from silk (sericum), or from the circumstance, that is was first obtained from the Seres.
Holoserica is all of silk: for Holon means all.
Tramoserica has a warp of linen; and a woof (trama) of silk.—L. xix. c. 22.
Touching these extracts we would remark, that the testimony of Isidore must not be considered as proving, that the silk manufacture still existed in Cos. His statement was no doubt merely copied from Varro or Pliny, or founded upon the authority of other writers long anterior to his own age. It is indeed probable that silk-worms had by this time been brought into Greece, but that he was ignorant of the fact.
SEVENTH CENTURY.
DOROTHEUS, ARCHIMANDRITE OF PALESTINE, A. D. 601.
Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐνδεδυμένος ὁλοσήρικον.—Doctr. 2, as quoted in Cod. Theodos. Gothofredi. L. Bat. 1665.
For as a man wearing a tunic entirely of silk.