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CHAP. 63.—MEMNONIA. MEDIA. MECONITIS. MITHRAX, MOROCHTHOS. MORMORION OR PROMNION. MURRHITIS. MYRMECIAS. MYRSINITIS. MESOLEUCOS. MESOMELAS.

What kind of stone memnonia1 is, we do not find mentioned. Medea2 is a black stone, said to have been discovered by the Medea3 of fable: it has veins of a golden lustre, and yields a liquid like saffron in colour and with a vinous flavour. Meconitis4 strongly resembles poppies. Mithrax5 comes from Persia and the mountains of the Red Sea: it is of numerous colours, and reflects various tints when exposed to the sun.6 Morochthos7 is a stone of a leek-green colour, from which a milk exudes. Mormorion8 is a transparent stone from India, of a deep black colour, and known also as "promnion." When it has a mixture of the colour9 of carbunculus, it is from Alexandria; and when it shares that of sarda,10 it is a native of Cyprus. It is found also at Tyrus and in Galatia; and, according to Xenocrates, it has been discovered at the foot of the Alps. These stones are well adapted for cutting in relief.11 Murrhitis12 has just the colour of myrrh, and very little of the appearance of a gem: it has the odour also of an unguent, and smells like nard when rubbed. Myrmecias13 is black, and has excrescences upon it like warts. Myrsinitis14 has a colour like that of honey, and the smell of myrtle. "Mesoleucos"15 is the name given to a stone when a white line runs through the middle; and when a black vein intersects any other colour, it is called "mesomelas."16

1 "Stone of Memnon."

2 This reading seems preferable to "Media," given by the Bamberg and some other MSS.

3 The enchantress of Colchis. The stone, no doubt was as fabulous as the enchantress.

4 "Poppy stone."

5 For the origin of this name, see "Eumithres," in Chapter 58, Note 22.

6 It was probably a kind of Opal.

7 The reading here is very doubtful.

8 This reading also is doubtful: it is probably an Eastern word. According to some authorities, this stone was a dark-brown rock crystal. Ajasson identifies it with Schorl or black Tourmaline, with a base of Magnesia.

9 Red Tourmaline, possibly, or Rubellite.

10 Carnclian. See Chapter 31 of this Book.

11 "Ectypæ sculpturæ." See B. xxxv. c. 43.

12 "Myrrh stone." It was an Eastern compound, probably. See Chapter 54, Note 25.

13 "Wart stone."

14 "Myrtle stone."

15 "White in the middle." This and the next seem to have been general names for stones of a particular appearance.

16 "Black in the middle."

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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