Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK XXXVI. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF STONES., CHAP. 12.

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CHAP. 12.—ONYX AND ALABASTRITES; SIX REMEDIES.

Our forefathers imagined that onyx¹ was only to be found in the mountains of Arabia, and nowhere else; but Sudines² was aware that it is also found in Carmania.³ Drinking-vessels were made of it at first, and then the feet of beds and chairs. Cornelius Nepos relates that great was the astonishment, when P. Lentulus Spinther exhibited amphoræ made of this material, as large as Chian wine-vessels in size; "and yet, five years after," says he, "I saw columns of this material, no less than two-and-thirty feet in height." At a more recent period again, some change took place⁴ with reference to this stone; for four⁵ small pillars of it were erected by Cornelius Balbus in his Theatre⁶ as something quite marvellous: and I myself have seen thirty columns, of larger size, in the banquetting-room which Callistus⁷ erected, the freedman of Claudius, so well known for the influence which he possessed.

(8.) This⁸ stone is called "alabastrites"⁹ by some, and is hollowed out into vessels for holding unguents, it having the reputation of preserving them from corruption¹⁰ better than anything else. In a calcined state, it is a good ingredient for plaisters.¹¹ It is found in the vicinity of Thebes in Egypt and of Damascus in Syria, that of Damascus being whiter than the others. The most esteemed kind, however, is that of Carmania, the next being the produce of India, and then, those of Syria and Asia. The worst in quality is that of Cappadocia, it being utterly destitute of lustre. That which is of a honey colour is the most esteemed, covered with spots curling in whirls,¹² and not transparent. Alabastrites is considered defective, when it is of a white or horn colour, or approaching to glass in appearance.

1 Ajasson remarks that under this name the ancients meant, first, yellow calcareous Alabaster, and secondly, Chalcedony, unclassified.

2 See end of the present Book.

3 See B. vi. cc. 27, 23, 32.

4 "Variatum est."

5 Ajasson thinks that these columns, in reality, were made, in both instances, of yellow jasper, or else yellow sardonyx, a compound of sard and chalcedony.

6 Erected A.U.C. 741.

7 See B. xxxiii. c. 47.

8 The reading here is doubtful, and it is questionable whether he considers the two stones as identical.

9 Probably calcareous Alabaster, Ajasson thinks. See B. xxxvii. c. 54.

10 See B. xiii. c. 3.

11 Plaster of Paris is made of gypsum or alabaster, heated and ground.

12 A feature both of jasper and of sardonyx.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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Cross-references to this page (10):
- The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, ABÛ [Sdot ]IR Egypt.
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), ARA´BIA
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), BUSI´RIS
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), PHAROS
- Smith's Bio, Anti'sthenes
- Smith's Bio, Arista'goras
- Smith's Bio, Buto'rides
- Smith's Bio, Demo'teles
- Smith's Bio, Lentulus or Lentulus Spinther
- Smith's Bio, So'stratus
Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page (7):
- Lewis & Short, Hippōnax
- Lewis & Short, absis
- Lewis & Short, an-nāvĭgo
- Lewis & Short, cēnseo
- Lewis & Short, com-pello
- Lewis & Short, foedĭtas
- Lewis & Short, lăquĕus

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Pliny the Elder, The Natural History
John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.

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CHAP. 12.—ONYX AND ALABASTRITES; SIX REMEDIES.

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.

This text is part of:

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Table of Contents:

CHAP. 12.—ONYX AND ALABASTRITES; SIX REMEDIES.

Pliny the Elder, The Natural History
John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed.