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Amethystus, Amethyst

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G4                                         AMETHYSTUS.
guishable from each other, as I have had frequent occasion to observe in looking over examples of both species which have come down to us from Roman times with engravings upon them. Again, in no other manner is it possible to understand what kind of precious stone Heliodorus is describing as set in the king of Ethiopia's ring (2Eth. v. 13). " And so saying, he put into his hands a ring, one of the royal jewels, an extraordinary and astonishing thing, the shank being formed of electrum, and the beasil flaming with an Ethiopian Amethyst, in size about the circumference of a maiden's eye, but in beauty far surpassing either the Iberian or the British sort. For the latter blushes with a feeble hue, and is like a rose just unfolding its leaves from out of the bud, and beginning to be tinged with red by the sunbeams. But in the Ethiopian Amethyst, out of its depth flames forth like a torch a pure and as it were a Spring-like beauty; and if you turn it about as you hold it, it shoots out a golden lustre, not dazzling the sight by its fierceness, but re­splendent with cheerfulness. Moreover, a more genuine nature is inherent in it than is possessed by any brought from the West, for it does not belie its appellation, but proves in reality to the wearer an antidote against intoxication, preserving him sober in the midst of drinking-bouts." This gem was engraved with a youthful shepherd and his flock, of which the tasteful bishop pro­ceeds to give a pretty description, in which he again dwells upon the " golden " tints commingled with the flamy hues of the stone. The same interpretation must be put upon the more obscure language of the somewhat later Epiphanius in his ' Treatise of the XII. Stones of the Eationale,' where Tinder IX. he gives " The stone Amethyst: this in proportion to its circumference is of a deep flame colour, or sometimes paler, sending forth out of the midst a vinous appearance. Of it there are various species : one of the sorts is very similar to a clear hyacinthus (Sapphire), the other to the murex blood, i. e. Tyrian dye. They are found in the mountains and on the coast of Libya."
Even in the last century the common Amethyst was held in high estimation, when Queen Charlotte's necklace of well-matched Amethysts, the most perfect ever got together, was valued at 2000Z.; at present it would not command as many
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