as opaque and sprinkled with specks of gold, and states that it came from Media (z.¢., Persia and Bokhara) whence the supply is brought to this day. King (“ Precious Stones and Gems,” cited by Lee), says: ‘‘ Before the true precious stones were in- troduced from India, the dapis lazuli held the highest place in the estimation of the primitive nations of Asia and Greece; in fact it was almost the only stone known to them having beauty of color to recommend it.”
Chalcedony (yad«ndev). From Chalcedon, where the stone was found in the neighboring copper mines. It was probably an inferior species of emerald, as crystal of carbonate of copper, which is still popularly called “the copper emerald.” Pliny describes it as small and brittle, changing its color when moved about, like the green feathers in the necks of peacocks and pigeons.
Emerald. See on ch. iy. 3.
20. Sardonyx (capddvvE). The most beautiful and rarest variety of onyx. Pliny defines it as originally signifying a white mark m a sard, like the human nail (8vvé) placed upon flesh, and both of them transparent. Onyx is called from the resemblance of its white and yellow veins to the shades in the human finger-nail. The early Greeks make no distinction be- tween the onyx and the sardonyx.
Sardius. See on ch. iv. 3.
Chrysolite (ypucodudos). From ypucds gold and ré9os stone. Lit., gold-stone. Identified by some with our topaz, by others with amber. Pliny describes it as “translucent with golden lustre.”
Beryl (SipuAdos). Pliny says that it resembled the green- ness of the pure sea. It has been supposed to be of the same or similar nature with the emerald.
Topaz (romdfiov). Compare Job xxviii. 19. The name was derived from an island in the Red Sea where the gem was first