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Smaragdus, Emerald

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SMARAGDUS.
319
 
 

 
 
the latter class, was their exhibiting a tinge of the colour of gall or of fresh oil (acris olei). In the sunshine they were bright and pure, but not green. Again he remarks (which can only apply to the Turquois) a peculiar defect in this class, that their green hue fades away by time, and that they are injured by exposure to the sun. As for his Median kind, there can be no doubt it was nothing but Malachite, for " they exhibit a very deep degree of green, and sometimes of the Lapis-lazuli colour. They are of a wavy pattern, and contain images of different objects, as for instance of poppies or birds, whelps, feathers, hairs, and such-like things. Such as are not perfectly green are improved by steeping in wine and oil."2 This species exceeded all others in mag­nitude. Juba stated that stones like the Median were found plentifully in Mount Taygetus in Laconia, and also in Sicily.
The supply of those from Chalcedon (mentioned by Theo-phrastus), had ceased in Pliny's times in consequence of the failure of the copper mines there ; but the locality was still known by the name Mons Smaragdites : " but," adds he, " they were always of little value, and very small. They were brittle, and of a varying colour, like the green feathers in the tails of peacocks, or on pigeons' necks, shining more or less according to the angle at which they were held : yet at the same time full of veins and of scales."3 All which shows, as before, they were only crystals of transparent Chrysocolla.4
But, when Pliny is speaking for himself, the case is very different ; the Smaragdus of Nero's age must be restricted to the true Emerald, perhaps including the Green Ruby. His remark, that " such Emeralds as have a plain surface reflect objects like a mirror," is singularly correct, and attests his accu-
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
       
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