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Molochites, Malachite

Molochites, Malachite Page of 453 Murrhina, China-Agate Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
236
MOLOCHIÏES.
dispersing steatotomous tumours. It lias the same appearance as the first (the Sard), but is somewhat greenish, (ίπτογλωρίζων)."
The cause of the ancient name for this very dissimilar stone being applied to our Malachite, lies apparently in Pliny's allu­sion to the general use of the former as an amulet. Now the Malachite in the Middle Ages enjoyed a mighty reputation for its virtues in this respect, probably suggested by the mysterious figures and natural hieroglyphics to be traced by a fanciful eye upon its variegated surface. De Boot says that it was even then worn in bracelets as a preservator of the health, " being believed to possess the greatest virtues; preserving the wearer from lightning, perturbation of spirits, contagion, and witchcraft ; for which latter reason it is hung round children's necks. The superstitious, and magicians who think themselves the only wise people, engrave upon it the figure of the sun, and thus believe themselves secure against 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.
Mohammed Ben Mansur, after describing his five species of the Dehne 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 re-marked 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, Ben Mansur concludes with, " If ground down with oil and natron (soda), the purest copper is obtained therefrom."
Antique camei in Malachite, though extremely uncommon compared with the frequency of modem works in this soft ma­terial, nevertheless do exist. In the Pulsky Gems is the most lovely bust of a Bacchante, belonging to the best period of Roman 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.
Molochites, Malachite Page of 453 Murrhina, China-Agate
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