[3] Possibly, as Bowles suggests, for Cabo de Agata—“Agate Cape.” “It would not be strange,” he adds, “if diamonds were found at this cape, since there are signs of their presence. I found white sapphires, slightly clouded, together with cornelians, jaspers, agates, and garnets.”
[4] A fresh find of torques and fibulæ has occurred in the spring of this year at La Moureta, near Ferrol.
[5] These ornaments were retained in use by the Visigoths, and find their due description in the Etymologies of Saint Isidore; e.g.:—
“Inaures ab aurium foraminibus nuncupatae, quibus pretiosa genera lapidum dependuntur.”
“Tourques sunt circuli aurei a collo ad pectus usque dependentes. Torques autem et bullae a viris geruntur; a foeminis vero monilia et catellae.”
“Fibulæ sunt quibus pectus foeminarum ornatur, vel pallium tenetur: viris in humeris, seu cingulum in lumbris.”
[6] There is also in the Archæological Museum at Madrid a small collection of what has been described as Visigothic jewellery, consisting of a handsome phalera, necklaces, finger-rings, and earrings. Most of these objects were found at Elche in 1776. The Museo Español de Antigüedades published a full description by Florencio Janer. Their interest is by no means as great as that of the treasure of Guarrazar, nor is the date of their production definitely ascertained. From various details I suspect that many of them may be purely Roman.
[7] The last word is commonly believed to be the name of a place—Sorbaces. There has been much discussion as to its meaning.
[8] Description du trésor de Guarrazar.
[9] “Ce que je puis affirmer, après l'examen le plus minutieux, c'est que la matière qui fait le fond de cette riche ornementation est réellement du verre.”—Lasteyrie, supported by Sommerard.