The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6)

12. The antipathies and sympathies which exist between certain objects. The hatreds manifested by certain aquatic animals. The pastinaca: eight remedies. The galeos: fifteen rem...

13. Coins of gold. At what periods copper, gold, and silver, were first impressed. How copper was used before gold and silver were coined. What was the largest sum of money poss...

40. The first inventors of various kinds of painting. The greatest difficulties in the art of painting. The several varieties of painting. The first artist that painted ceilings...

4. The first artists who excelled in the sculpture of marble, and the various periods at which they flourished. The Mausoleum in Caria. The most celebrated sculptors and works i...

54. Achates: the several varieties of it. Acopos: the remedies derived from it. Alabastritis: the remedies derived from it. Alectoria. Androdamas. Argyrodamas. Antipathes. Arabi...

Following the proper order of things, we have now arrived at the culminating point of the wonders manifested to us by the operations of Nature. And even at the very outset, we f...

We are now about to speak of metals, of actual wealth,[648] the standard of comparative value, objects for which we diligently search, within the earth, in numerous ways. In one...

into a crucible, where it is macerated in vinegar, so that all the hard particles may be dissolved; after which, it is pounded again, and then rinsed in shell-shaped vessels, an...

We must, in the next place, give an account of the ores of brass,[1216] a metal which, in respect of utility, is next in value; indeed the Corinthian brass comes before silver,...

I have now given at considerable length an account of the nature of metals, which constitute our wealth, and of the substances that are derived from them; so connecting my vario...

It now remains for us to speak of stones, or, in other words, the leading folly of the day; to say nothing at all of our taste for gems and amber, crystal and murrhine vases.[23...

That nothing may be wanting to the work which I have undertaken, it still remains for me to speak of precious stones: a subject in which the majestic might of Nature presents it...

[1029] “Candelis.” The Abate Requeno thinks that these “candelæ” were used as a delicate cauterium, simply to keep the wax soft, that it might receive a polish from the friction...

Beckmann has the following remarks: “This conjecture appears, at any rate, to be ingenious; but when I read the passage again, without prejudice, I can hardly believe that Pliny...

[1116] In allusion to the plebeian origin of C. Marius, who was born at the village of Cereatæ, near Arpinum. It is more than probable that the story that he had worked as a com...

[1159] “It is possible that the ‘cæruleum’ of the ancients may in some cases have been real ultramarine, but properly and in general, it was only copper ochre.”—Beckmann’s Hist....

[1165] According to Vitruvius, B. vii. c. 11, the manufactory of Vestorius was at Puteoli, now Pozzuoli. This was probably the same C. Vestorius who was also a money-lender and...

[1371] Praxiteles held a high rank among the ancient sculptors, and may be considered as second to Phidias alone; he is frequently mentioned by Pausanias and various other class...

[1626] From the Greek σκωλὴξ, “a worm,” “Vermicular Verdigris.”—“The accounts of this substance in ancient authors seem to some commentators to be obscure; but in my opinion we...

[1629] Brongniart is of opinion that the “sory” of Pliny is the sulphate of copper, probably with an excess of acid. He informs us that he has received a specimen of a native su...

[2088] In the original, as given by Sillig, “Plautiu, Marcus Cleœtas.” That commentator supposes him to have been a Greek by birth, and adopted into the Plautian family, on bein...

[2552] Or Circus Maximus; in the Eleventh Region of the City. According to Kircher, it was this obelisk that Pope Sextus V. had disinterred, and placed before the church of the...

[3250] “Hair-stone.” This was probably either Iron alum, known also as Alun de plume; Alunogen, known also as Feather Alum or hair salt; or Amianthus, also called satin Asbestus...

[3285] “Grass-green stone.” It is just possible that the Chlorite of modern Mineralogy, a kind of emerald-green talc, or hydrous silicate of magnesia, may be meant: but we must...

[3307] A preferable reading, probably, to “Eumitres.” It perhaps took its name from Mithres, the god of the Sun among the Persians, and meant “blessing of Mithres.” Ajasson thin...

[3358] “White gold.” Ajasson thinks that this may have been either a sub-variety of Hyalin amethystine quartz, a yellow quartz or false topaz, or else an unctuous, white quartz,...

[3443] See B. xxxvi. c. 43. Pebbles of white flint were probably meant under this name; from which is derived, according to Ajasson, the French word _caillou_, meaning a flint p...

Colours, of the stars i. 49, 50 —of the sky, 60, 61 —of wines, iii. 237, 248; iv. 475 —of juices, iii. 325, 326 —primary, iv. 326 —of flowers, 326, 327 —plants delineated in, v....

Homer, his tomb, i. 321 —his poems honoured by Alexander, ii. 173 —his works quoted, i. 73, 117, 194, 209, 214, 274, 279, 287, 292, 293, 296, 310, 311, 325, 404, 412, 476, 484,...

372, 373, 380, 385, 398, 414, 445, 496, 510; =v.= 22, 28, 30, 31, 35, 42, 46, 47, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 82, 87, 89, 97, 125, 131, 139, 159, 160, 188, 1...