CHAP. 63.—MEMNONIA. MEDIA. MECONITIS. MITHRAX. MOROCHTHOS. MORMORION OR PROMNION. MURRHITIS. MYRMECIAS. MYRSINITIS. MESOLEUCOS. MESOMELAS.
What kind of stone memnonia[3359] is, we do not find mentioned. Medea[3360] is a black stone, said to have been discovered by the Medea[3361] of fable: it has veins of a golden lustre, and yields a liquid like saffron in colour and with a vinous flavour. Meconitis[3362] strongly resembles poppies. Mithrax[3363] comes from Persia and the mountains of the Red Sea: it is of numerous colours, and reflects various tints when exposed to the sun.[3364] Morochthos[3365] is a stone of a leek-green colour, from which a milk exudes. Mormorion[3366] is a transparent stone from India, of a deep black colour, and known also as “promnion.” When it has a mixture of the colour[3367] of carbunculus, it is from Alexandria; and when it shares that of sarda,[3368] it is a native of Cyprus. It is found also at Tyrus and in Galatia; and, according to Xenocrates, it has been discovered at the foot of the Alps. These stones are well adapted for cutting in relief.[3369] Murrhitis[3370] 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. Myrmecias[3371] is black, and has excrescences upon it like warts. Myrsinitis[3372] has a colour like that of honey, and the smell of myrtle. “Mesoleucos”[3373] 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.”[3374]
CHAP. 64.—NASAMONITIS. NEBRITIS. NIPPARENE.
Nasamonitis is a blood-red stone, marked with black veins. Nebritis, a stone sacred to Father Liber,[3375] has received its name from its resemblance to a nebris.[3376] There is also another stone of this kind, that is black. Nipparene[3377] bears the name of a city and people of Persia, and resembles the teeth of the hippopotamus.
CHAP. 65.—OICA. OMBRIA OR NOTIA. ONOCARDIA. ORITIS OR SIDERITIS. OSTRACIAS. OSTRITIS. OPHICARDELON. OBSIAN STONE.
Oica is the barbarian name given to a stone which is pleasing for its colours, black, reddish yellow, green, and white. Ombria,[3378] by some called “notia,”[3379] falls with showers and lightning, much in the same manner as ceraunia[3380] and brontea,[3381] 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[3382] is like kermesberry in appearance, but nothing further is said about it. Oritis,[3383] by some called “sideritis,”[3384] is a stone of globular form, and proof against the action of fire. Ostracias,[3385] or ostracitis, is a testaceous stone, harder than ceramitis,[3386] and similar in all respects to achates,[3387] except that the latter has an unctuous appearance when polished: indeed, so remarkably hard is ostracitis, that with fragments of it other gems are engraved. Ostritis[3388] receives its name from its resemblance to an oyster-shell. Ophicardelon is the barbarian name for a stone of a black colour, terminated by a white line on either side. Of Obsian[3389] stone we have already spoken in the preceding Book. There are gems, too, of the same name and colour, found not only in Æthiopia and India, but in Samnium as well, and, in the opinion of some, upon the Spanish shores that lie towards the Ocean.
CHAP. 66.—PANCHRUS. PANGONUS. PANEROS OR PANERASTOS. PONTICA; FOUR VARIETIES OF IT. PHLOGINOS OR CHRYSITIS. PHŒNICITIS. PHYCITIS. PERILEUCOS. PÆNITIS OR GÆANIS.
Panchrus[3390] is a stone which displays nearly every colour. Pangonus[3391] is no longer than the finger: the only thing that prevents it from being taken for a crystal, is, its greater number of angles. What kind of stone paneros[3392] is, Metrodorus does not inform us; but he gives some lines, by no means without elegance, that were written upon this stone by Queen Timaris, and dedicated to Venus; from which we have reason to conclude that certain fecundating virtues were attributed to it. By some writers it is called panerastos.[3393] Of the stone called “pontica”[3394] there are numerous varieties: one is stellated, and presents either blood-red spots, or drops like gold, being reckoned in the number of the sacred stones. Another, in place of stars, has streaks of the same colour, and a fourth presents all the appearance of mountains and valleys.
Phloginos,[3395] also called “chrysitis,”[3396] strongly resembles Attic ochre,[3397] and is found in Egypt. Phœnicitis[3398] is a stone so called from its resemblance to a date. Phycitis receives its name from its resemblance to sea-weed.[3399] Perileucos[3400] is the name given to a gem, in which a white colour runs down from the margin of the stone to the base. Pæanitis,[3401] by some called “gæanis,”[3402] conceives, it is said, and is good for females at the time of parturition: this stone is found in Macedonia, near the monument[3403] of Tiresias there, and has all the appearance of congealed water.