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Obsidianum, Obsidian

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OBSIDIANUM.
OBSIDIANUM : Opsianum : Λίθος Οψιανος.
This substance, a vitreous lava, whence its old name "lava-glass," was called after a certain Obsidius or Opsius, who first discovered it in Ethiopia (xxxvi. 67). It is extremely black and sometimes translucent (in thin pieces), and, inlaid in chamber-walls in the form of mirrors, it reflects shadows instead of images. By a strange coincidence, the Peruvians, when first discovered, had Obsidian mirrors in general use—" many persons make signet-stones out of it." This fashion does not seem to have lasted long, for antique intagli in Obsidian are extremely rare. There was, however, in the Praun Collection a Cock-Chi-niasra, on a large Obsidian, with a Gnostic design on the reverse. The Black Agate may be distinguished from this stone by the character that, however deep its colour, it always exhibits a reddish translucency when held up against a strong light ; the Obsidian, on the contrary, where translucent is colourless.
Pliny had seen figures in full relief of Augustus sculptured in it, the substance attaining sufficient dimensions to allow of this employment ; ' and the same emperor had dedicated in the Temple of Concord, as being something wonderful, four elephants cut out of Obsidian; their size, however, is not stated. Tiberius restored to the worship of the people of Heliopolis a statue of Menelaus, which had been found amongst the property of a certain former governor of Egypt (who appears to have appro-
Naxium, Emery Page of 453 Obsidianum, Obsidian
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