Commentary Page 98



	COMMENTARY

	22. But we must consider elsewhere the causes of the differences between stones that either burn or do not burn. This vague promise or cross reference is similar to the one at the end of section 38 and very similar to the one at the end of the last section of the treatise On Fire. No further treatment of combustible and incombustible stones is to be found in any other extant work by Theophrastus. He does, however, in his History of Plants¹⁰¹ give some additional information about pumice. 23. sardion, iaspis, and sappheiros. For the identification of these stones, see sections 30, 27, and 37 respectively. 23. smaragdos. Though the word "emerald" is derived from the Greek σμάραγδος, which has often been translated in this way, the accounts of early writers show clearly that in ancient times various stones of pronounced green color were listed under this name. The statements of Theophrastus make it doubtful whether true emerald was even known to him, and there appears to be no certain evidence on other grounds of its use among the Greeks. On the other hand, the more detailed descriptions of Pliny¹⁰² indicate that emerald was known as smaragdus in his day, and archaeological discoveries afford ample proof that the Romans made use of this precious stone.¹⁰³ But Pliny,¹⁰⁴ who states that there were twelve different kinds of smaragdus and describes some of these varieties, makes it clear that a number of minerals other than the particular variety of beryl called emerald were included under the ancient name. Though it is impossible to determine with certainty what all of these were, probably any transparent or translucent green mineral that resembled emerald, even one as common as green quartz, would have been classified under smaragdus, and Pliny's descriptions and the localities that he mentions indicate that certain copper minerals, such as malachite, were classified in this way. It is also probable that imitation green stones composed of glass or stained ¹⁰¹IX, 17, 3. ¹⁰² XXXVII, 62-73. ¹⁰³ Bliimner, Technologic und Terminologie der Gewerbe und Kiinste bei Griechen und* Rbmern,* Vol. Ill, p. 239. ¹⁰⁴XXXVII, 65.

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