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COMMENTARY
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of lyngourion shows that he personally knew nothing about this. That lyngourion was not one of the soft fossil resins seems evident from the remark he makes about its hardness.
On the whole, therefore, lyngourion can be identified with reasonable certainty as either amber or some particular variety of amber.
28. bits of wood. In quoting this passage about the attractive powers attributed to lyngourion, Pliny178 mentions leaves {"folia") rather than wood. For this reason Wimmer added the word φύλλα ("leaves") in brackets after ξύλον ("wood"), indicating that the text may have originally contained this word. Since Pliny is not always accurate in his quotations, this is far from certain. However, the context makes it clear that the word ξνλον should be understood to mean bits of wood or shavings.
Theophrastus does not say that it is necessary to rub lyngourion in order to induce its attractive power, but other ancient authors also fail to mention this when they speak of the electrostatic attraction that amber displays. It is uncertain whetJier Theophrastus was even aware of the necessary part played by friction in producing this phenomenon, especially as his statements show that he was dependent upon others for his information.
28. Dio\les. This is generally considered to be the earliest mention of Diokles of Karystos, a famous Greek physician and writer of the fourth century b.c. who in all likelihood was for some time a contemporary of Theophrastus at Athens. The significance of the allusion to Diokles for dating this treatise of Theophrastus is discussed in the notes on section 59.
28. it is better when it comes from wild animals rather than tame ones and from males rather than females; for there is a difference in their food, in the exercise they ta\e or fail to take, and in general in the nature of their bodies, so that one is drier and the other more moist. Those who
"SXXXVII, 53.
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