cycmus, which
was an imitation lapis-lazuli made in Egypt. This was an alkaline
silicate, colored a deep blue with carbonate of copper. Often a
wonderful translucent or opaque blue glass was used. The genuine
lapis-lazuli was also used to a considerable extent for scarabs and
cylinders, in Egypt and Assyria, and gems were also cut from it in
imperial Roman times.4 A notable instance of the use of lapis-lazuli in ancient Egypt was as the material for the image of Truth (Ma), which the Egyptian chief-justice wore on his neck, suspended from a golden chain.5
In
Roman times some of the legionaries are said to have worn rings set
with scarabs, for the reason that this figure was believed to impart
great courage and vigor to the wearer.6
The Egyptian amulets of the earliest period, up to the XII dynasty (circa 2000 b.c), differ considerably from those made and worn after the beginning of the XVIII dynasty (1580 b.c). Those
of the earlier period are not numerous and present but a small number
of types, animal forms or the heads of animals constituting the most
favored models. The precious stone materials are principally
carnelian, beryl, and amethyst. After the close of the so-called Hyksos
period, the age during which foreign kings ruled over Egypt, came the
brilliant revival and development of Egyptian civilization that
characterized the XVIII dynasty. Some of the old forms were entirely
cast aside while others were greatly modified in form and significance,
the animal forms losing much of their fetich-
4Middleton, "Engraved Gems of Ancient Times," Cambridge, 1891, p. 151.
BDiodori Siculi, " Bibliothecae historicales," ed. Dindorf, Parisiis, 1842, vol. i, p. 65; lib. i, cap. 75.
* JEliani, " De animalibus," lib. x, cap. 15.
