The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

324 XVI.viii.7–x.7 Isidore of Seville
(electrum)astears, year in and out, by the river Eridanus
(i.e. the Po); and it is called electrum because many poets
said the sun used to be called Elector (the ‘Shining One’).
But infact amber is not the sap of the poplar tree but
of the pine tree, for when it is burned it gives off the
fragrance of pine pitch. 7. Itisformed in the islands of
the northern Ocean as pine gum, and is solidified like
crystal by the cold or by the passage of time. It is used
to make beautiful necklaces that are popular with rural
women. But some people call it harpaga (lit. “hook”)
because, once it has received the spirit of heat from being
rubbed with the fingers, it attracts leaves and chaff and
the fringes of clothing just as a magnet attracts iron. It
may be colored in whatever manner you like, for it may
be dyed by ox-tongue root and by purple shell-fish dye.
8. Thelyncurius is so named because it is formed from
lynx urine that has hardened with time. Like amber, it is
yellow, and it attracts nearby leaves with its spirit.
ix. Purple gems (De purpureis) 1. Amongthe purple
gems Indian amethyst holds the place of honor.
Amethyst (amethystus) is purple with a violet color
mixed in; its brilliance is like that of a rose, and it gently
givesout a sort of little flame. Another type of amethyst
holds a lower place, down to that of the hyacinth-stone.
People assert that the reason for its name is that there
is something not entirely fire-like in its purple, but that
it possesses rather the color of wine (cf. , “wine”).
Amethyst is easily carved. There are five kinds. 2. The
sapphire (sapphirus)isblue with purple, possessing scattered
gold flecks; the finest sapphires are found among
the Medes, although sapphires are nowhere truly clear.
3. The hyacinth-stone (iacinthus, probablyasapphire)
is named after the flower called hyacinth. It is found in
Ethiopia and has a blue color. The finest hyacinth-stone
is neither clear nor dulled with opacity but glows and
shines purple from both qualities, although this stone is
not consistent in its color. In fair weather it is clear and
pleasing, while in cloudy weather it loses its strength
and fades before one’s eyes. When put into the mouth,
it is freezing cold. It is very hard to carve, although it
is not completely unworkable for it can be incised and
engraved with a diamond.
4. Iacinthizonta is from India, and closely resembles
the hyacinth-stone. Certain crystals of these, similar
to iacinthus, are discolored by crisscrossing veins, and
from this flaw comes their name (cf. , “stripe”).
5. Amethystizontas is so named because the sparkle on
its surface ranges towards the violet color of amethyst.
6. Chelidonia is named after the color of a swallow (cf.
,“swallow”). There are two kinds: one of them is
purple on one side, and the other purple with scattered
black spots. 7. Cyanea (i.e. a type of lapus lazuli) is a gem
from Scythia glittering with a blue sheen, either pure
blue, or sometimes varied with flecks of flickering gold.
8. Rhoditis is rosy, and takes its name from this quality
(cf. ,“rose”).
x. White gems (De candidis) 1. The pearl is the most
excellent of the white gems. People say it is called a pearl
(margarita)because this kind of stone is found in shellfish
from the sea (mare), for it consists of a pebble formed
in the flesh of a shellfish, like the little stone in the brain
of a fish (see section 8 below). It is made from celestial
dew, which shellfish absorb at a certain season of
the year. A certain pearl is called a unio, anapt name
because only one (unus) isfound at a time, never two
or more. White pearls are preferable to those that are
yellow. Youth, or the reception of morning dew, makes
pearls white; old age, or evening air, produces dark ones.
2. Theopal (paederos) holds second place among the
white gems, after the pearl. One may ask of this gem
under what color it should be classified, given that its
name is applied to other sorts of beauty so frequently
that it has become merely a term that promises beauty.
3. Asterites is white and contains a light enclosed within
it like a star floating about inside. It reflects white rays
of sunlight, whence it finds its name (cf. , “star,
flame”).
4. Galactitis is milky (cf. , gen. ,
“milk”); when rubbed it gives off a white fluid tasting
of milk. When tied onto nursing women it makes their
breasts productive. It is also said to make an infant’s
mouth water when it is hung around its neck. It becomes
liquid in the mouth and obliterates memory. The rivers
Nile and Achelous yield this stone. Some people call a
smaragdus banded with white veins a galactitis. 5. Chalazias
has the shape and whiteness of a hailstone (cf.
, “hail”); it is also invincibly hard, like a diamond.
Even when placed on the fire it retains its coldness.
6. Solis is a white gem, and has this name because it
casts its rays in the form of the sun (sol) shining on the
world. 7.Selenite(selenitis)istranslucentwith a whitish
honey-like gleam; it contains the image of the moon (cf.