Achātes
(
ἀχάτης). An agate, a precious stone or gem. Theophrastus
describes it as a beautiful and rare stone from the river Achates in Sicily, which sold at a
high price; but Pliny tells us that in his time it was no longer in esteem, it being then
found in many places, of large size and diversified appearance. The ancients distinguished
agates into many species, to each of which they gave a name importing its difference from the
common agate, whether it were in colour, figure, or texture. Thus they called the red,
haemachates, which was sprinkled with spots of jasper, or blood-red
chalcedony, and now called “dotted agate.” The white they termed
leucachates; the plain yellowish or wax-coloured,
cerachates.