a very dull yellow, for the lanterns of the ancients were glazed with horn.
The Astroites, celebrated for its magic virtues by Zoroaster, appears to be the same as the Astrion.
The
Astrobolos also may be regarded as a Moon-stone, for Sudines describes
it as being like a fish's eye, and emitting a white radiating lustre in
the sunlight. The same properties have gained for a variety of the
Adularia, the title of ' Œil de poisson,' with modern jewellers.
The Selenites has a better claim, from its specified greenish tint, than any of the preceding to be considered the Cat's-eye. (See Zmilampis.)
The only conclusion to be derived from the brief notices of the several stones above quoted is that Ästeria. and similar names were used in different senses by authors of different times, but that Pliny understood
by Asteria the same gem as we do at present-—the Star-Sapphire ; and
that this, when exhibiting more purple than blue, was distinguished as
the Ceraunia, or Lightning-stone.
The Star-Sapphire appears also to be intended under the title of Astrapia (Lightning-stone), " where, in a colourless, or an azure ground, as it were the rays of lightning diverge from the centre.''
