kind
known then by the name of Chrysoprase, but in fact only a variety of
the last mentioned. Then came the Hyacinthizontes, or sapphire-like
sort; and the Aeroides, of a yet fainter shade of sky-blue.1
This was the species invariably employed for intagli by the ancient
engravers, as all existing antique examples attest. Lowest of all were
ranked the wax-coloured, and the oily, i. e. those of a greasy yellowish green, or such as were totally colourless.
The
Beryl was the only one amongst the precious stones that was facetted by
the Roman jewellers, who cut it into a sexangular pyramid, as otherwise
it had no brilliancy. Beryls were then highly prized both for the
purpose of ear-drops and of mere ornamental, i.e. not engraved,
ring-stones. When Cynthia's shade appears to Propertius he remarks that
(iv. 7)— " Et solitam digito beryllon adederat ignis."
And Juvenal's ostentatious host Virro drinks from a bowl embossed with Amber reliefs and Beryl—
" Heliadum cruatas et insequales beryllo Virro tenet phialas."
Inasmuch
as their chief value consisted in their length, the Romans, according
to Pliny, preferred to make " Cylindri " or pendants out of them rather
than ring-stones. Such were the costly presents which, as Juvenal hints
(ii. 61), would reward the bride for her discreet silence—
" Tu nube atque tace, donant arcana cylindros."
The
Indians cut this stone similarly into long cylindrical beads, and wore
them strung upon elephant's hair, believing that their lustre was
heightened by this perforation and the removal of the internal
substance, or "paler marrow." But the most perfect in colour were not
bored, but used for decoration by having each end secured within a gold
boss.
