of
the Romans, ancient and modern), for their seals, to which the same
objection does not apply. One of the finest intagli in Jacinth known is
the head, formerly considered that of Pompey, but now with more justice
attributed to Maecenas, (Rhodes), which is rendered still more valuable
by the supposed signature of the engraver Apollonius.
The
deep-coloured sort, of the richest orange-brown, usually found with
antique camei, for the most part heads of Fauns, Masks, and such like
Bacchic ideals, carved out of it, has a better claim tban the dark
Carbuncle to be considered the Morio* (so called from its
mulberry colour), which Pliny notes was employed for engravings in
relief, " ad cetypas scalptnras aptantur." As he makes such an
observation concerning no other gem, it may bo concluded that the Morio
was then in chief request for that purpose. This attribution is also
supported by his definition of its three varieties ; the Indian,
entirely dark yet translucent, called also Pramnion (after a very
strong red wine) : the Alexandrian, with which a Carbuncle tinge was
mingled;')' and the Cyprian, verging upon the.colour of the bard.
Rohler (' Ueber den Sard,' &c.) maintains that by Morio the
provided
she never again beheld her native earth, departed and settled at Cumse.
But at last, worn out, with old age, and thoroughly weary of life, she
applied to the senate of her country, who in pity returned her a letter
sealed in the usual manner : anil no sooner did the Sybil set eyes upon
the seal made of her natal soil, than the spell was broken, and she
delivered from the bondage of existence.
* Or Mormorio (Jan's reading) ; a name the seeming connection of which with ìïñìßï may account for its selection by the ancients for suchlike bugbear images as Satyric masks and Fauns' heads.
t The variety now appropriately termed by the Italians " Giacinto-Guarnaccino " (from vemaccia, a
white wine), in whose orange the red tint strongly predominates over
the yellow. Under this name the brownish-red Spinel is frequently
confounded : it being almost impossible to distinguish one from the
other, except by the difference in their relative specific gravity.
