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Onyx, Nicolo

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260
ONYX.
the Onyx par eminence ; and as a diminutive presenting a curious analogy with the original name ονύχυον. A most absurd deriva­tion for the modern name is current, that the stone was so called after a certain famous (and fabulous) artist Nicolo, who worked in it in preference to any other ; equally ridiculous with that given by Camillo Leonardo from Nicolaus, in Greek the " conqueror of nations," in virtue of which designation it makes the wearer victorious in battle. A remark nevertheless valuable as testi­fying to the existence of the name Nicolo for this gem amongst the Italians of the 15th century.
This variety, or more truly, this method of cutting the stone and giving it its characteristic appearance, was unknown in Grecian art, the intagli occurring in it being invariably in the Roman style, and in style all posterior to the reign of Nero.
As an additional proof that the Nicolo was the Roman Onyx, we have the curious fact recorded by De Boot (writing on imme­morial authority) : " That sort of the Onyx is the first in value and estimation which is of a bluish tinge, having a black layer underneath ; and is especially sought after by the Jews, for they have a constant tradition that this bluish Onyx was one of the number of the Twelve Stones, and therefore they reverence and value it highly" (ii. 111).
But to return to the definitions of the early Greek miner­alogists. Such a species of many-coloured quartz as they de­scribe, partly opaque, partly transparent, full of lines, eyes, and spots, would now be called an Agate, rather than an Onyx. Indeed Isidorus (Origg. xvi. 11), by a singular anticipation of the modern nomenclature, describes the Achates as " black, having in the middle white and black circles joined together and veined." Such a description exactly applies to that finest specimen of antique work in Agate anywhere preserved, the leopard's head in the Townley Collection, admirably sculptured in full relief, and as large as the head of an actual tom-cat :l the stone marbled
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