as has been generally assumed. Hence Theophrastus probably meant the other ancient country known by the name of Iberia, a country corresponding to the eastern part of the present Transcaucasian Georgia. Colchis, mentioned here along with Iberia, was situated along the eastern shore of the Euxine south of the Caucasus, and was therefore a country corresponding to the western part of the present Georgia. Since Colchis, which is mentioned in the same context, had a common boundary with this eastern Iberia, it is probable that Theophrastus was thinking of this Iberia rather than Spain. The cinnabar may well have been found in a single district common to both these ancient countries. It is odd that Theophrastus should describe the cinnabar found in Iberia and Colchis as very hard and stony. Cinnabar is not a very hard mineral. Though the crystalline and massive varieties have a hardness of ι to 2.5 on the Mohs scale—approximately that of rock salt—the earthy varieties are very soft. His statement, therefore, does not appear to be based on actual observation, though perhaps he is merely emphasizing the pronounced difference in hardness between the crystalline and the earthy varieties. This seems a likely explanation, since the impure kind from near Ephesos was probably the earthy variety, whereas the so-called natural kind from Iberia and Colchis was probably a pure crystalline or massive variety.
58. They say that this is found on cliffs and is brought down by arrows that are shot at it.
This story is repeated by Pliny453 with only minor changes. Though it seems to be fabulous, it may, like many other ancient stories, have a real basis. It suggests, at least, that the cinnabar of Colchis was mined in rugged country, and this in turn suggests that the mining district was situated in the northeastern part of Colchis in or near the Caucasus, which is characterized in many places by unusually precipitous rock formations.
58. The prepared \ind comes from one place only, a little above Ephesos. That cinnabar actually occurs not far inland from the site of the
453 XXXIII, 114.
