Quantcast
  Due to a new server, slow response may occur for which we apologize Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-gems-decorative-stones/page_118 - 2
 

Crystallus, Rock-crystal

Crystallus, Rock-crystal Page of 384 Crystallus, Rock-crystal Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
CRYSTALLUS.
109
serving for a signet. All those known to me have the shank moulded into a twisted cable ; one example bore for device the Christian monogram, which indicates the date of the fashion.* It would seem that these rings superseded and answered the same purpose as the balls of Crystal carried at an earlier period by ladies in their hands for the sake of their refreshing coolness during the summer heats : a fashion kept up by the Japanese to the present day. Propertius (ii. 24 and iv. 3) makes the deserted fair one complain—
Such balls, frequently found amongst ancient remains, even of the Ninevites (Dr. Dee's showstone is one of them*, were also used as burning lenses. That they were so employed by surgeons is expressly stated by Pliny :—" I find it asserted by physicians that, when any part of the body requires to be cauterized, it cannot be better done than by means of a Crystal ball held up against the solar hits." Long before, Aristophanes (Nubes, 758) jocularly
Crystallus, Rock-crystal Page of 384 Crystallus, Rock-crystal
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page