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_187 - 2
 

Molochites, Malachite

Molochites, Malachite Page of 384 Murrhina, China-Agate Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
178
NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
demons and poisonous reptiles." * Such a coincidence of supposed virtues, when the ancient material was no longer forthcoming, naturally led to the transfer of the name to the other equally virtuous substitute.
Ben Mansur, after describing his five species of the Deine or Malachite, observes, " This stone is only valued in Syria and the land of the Franks." He confirms my explanation of this being Pliny's Smaragdus Medicus by the statement that if rubbed with oil it gains a greater lustre : the very thing remarked by Pliny touching the former, " those not perfectly green are improved by the application of wine and oil." To remove all doubt as to the mineral called Dehne, the Persian naturalist concludes with, " If ground down with oil and natron (soda), the purest copper is obtained therefrom (by fusion)."
Antique camei in Malachite, though extremely uncommon compared with the frequency of modern works in this soft material, nevertheless do exist. Amongst the Pulsky Gems is the most lovely bust of a Bacchante, belonging to the best period of Eornan art, still retaining on portions the "thin hard patina of brown oxide with which its surface was entirely incrusted when it came into the hands of the present owner—a convincing proof of the ages that must have elapsed since its first concealment in the earth.
* The choice of this particular sigil for this particular stone excites the suspicion of some traditional connexion in this case with the Gnostic worship of the sun-god, the pantheus Ahrasax, -whose peculiar vehicle was the green Jasper, according to me, the Molochites of those times.
Molochites, Malachite Page of 384 Murrhina, China-Agate
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page