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Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
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Introduction

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INTRODUCTION.                                      5
quotes them from memory, or else transcribes without under­standing their meaning; the last the most probable explanation. His notices indeed are full of the most absurd blunders, and confusion of one stone with another. His principal object seems to have been to point out the medicinal virtues of each stone. The only interesting points to the mineralogist are his definition of the three species of the Hyacinihus: and his allusion to the Adamas as a " sky-coloured gem :" a proof that his ancient au­thority upon that head had understood the Sapphire, the blue corundum, by that designation.
The book "On Rivers", ascribed to Plutarch, but by some to Parthenius, a grammarian of Nero's times, notices particularly the precious stones found in each river, or the mountains ad­jacent. Unfortunately these notices also are of no scientific value, having reference only to the magical or medicinal qua­lities of the several gems indicated. To give a specimen of this curious catalogue : " In the Pactolus is found, though rarely, a stone like the pumice, which changes its colour four times a day ; it is only to be discovered by little girls as yet too young to know anything, but if worn by nubile virgins it protects them against all attacks upon their chastity. The Sagaris produces the Autoglyphus (or ' natural intaglio'), representing a figure of Cybele : this gem, if found by one of her emasculated devotees, enables him to endure courageously all supernatural manifesta­tions. Hero too is found the Aster, that flames in the dark, hence called Ballen, or king by the Phrygians." The only thing that gives an interest to this compilation of absurdities is the circum­stance of the maker's quoting his authority for each statement, and thus attesting the large number of those who had before him written on the subject of precious stones. Many of these are not to be found in Pliny's list; their names are therefore worth
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