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Ch. 1: Introduction

Ch. 1: Introduction Page of 377 Ch. 1: Introduction Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
10 NATURAL HISTORY OF PRECIOUS STONES, &e.
back forthwith into the deepest part of the river. Many of these stones, lie consecrated in the temple of Pallas of the Brazen-House in Sparta." Or again. " In the Maeander is found a stone called ' Sophron' (the Sensible) by the rule of contrary, for if you throw it into any one's lap he goes mad instantaneously, and murders some of his family ; but recovers his senses after having propitiated the Mother of the Gods." The only thing that gives a value to this compilation of extravagances out of that province wherein " Graecia mendax " appears to have surpassed herself, is the circumstance of the maker's quoting his voucher for each statement; and thus attesting the large number of those who had before him written upon the same subject. Many of these writers are not to be met with in Pliny's list; their names are therefore worth transcribing here ; viz., Agatharehides* Archelaus, Aristobulus, Dercyllus, Dorotheus the Chaldœan, j Seraclitus of Sicyon, Nicias of Mallos, Theophilus, Thrasyllus of Mendes. The nature of Plutarch's quotations from these writers would indicate that they had princi­pally busied themselves with the reputed efficacy of gems in medicine and in magic. It may be conjectured that although Pliny names none amongst them, save Archelaus, in the list of publications serving him in the compilation of Book xxxvii, yet he both knew them and (as the cha­racter of Plutarch's extracts leads us to suspect) contemp­tuously classed them without further notice amongst the " impudent Magi," samples of whose " infanda vanitas," " awful lying," he occasionally introduces for the purpose of exposure. To the above names Suidas adds that of
Ch. 1: Introduction Page of 377 Ch. 1: Introduction
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