[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Foreign](https://indike.org/pramana/inf) › [Latin](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la) › [Principate (31 BCE – 300 CE)](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial) › [Naturalis historia](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder) › 37.119 # Naturalis historia 37.119 Naturalis historia 37.119 - **Language:** Latin ### [37.119](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.119) Reddetur et per se cyanos, accommodato paulo ante et iaspidi nomine a colore caeruleo. optima Scythica, dein Cypria, postremo Aegyptia. adulteratur maxime tinctura , idque in gloria est regum Aegypti; adscribitur et qui primus tinxit. dividitur autem et haec in mares feminasque. inest ei aliquando et aureus pulvis, non qualis sappiris; in his enim aurum punctis conlucet.— > CHAP. 38.—CYANOS; THE SEVERAL VARIETIES OF IT. We must also give a separate account of cyanos, a name which, until very recently, was given to a species of iaspis, on account of its cærulean colour. The best kind is that of Scythia, the next best being the produce of Cyprus, and, last of all, that of Egypt. An artificial kind is much in use, that is prepared by dyeing other substances; and this invention is looked upon as one of the great glories of the kings of Egypt, the name of the king who first discovered it being still preserved in their annals. This stone, too, is divided into male and female, and sometimes it has the appearance of being powdered with a golden dust, in much the same way as sapphiros. > — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, The Natural History of Pliny > CHAP. 39.—SAPPHIROS. For sapphiros, too, is refulgent with spots like gold. It is also of an azure colour, though sometimes, but rarely, it is purple; the best kind being that which comes from Media. In no case, however, is this stone diaphanous; in addition to which, it is not suited for engraving when intersected with hard particles of a crystalline nature. Those among them that have the colour of cyanos are generally thought to be the male stones. > — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, The Natural History of Pliny - [Previous: 37.118](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.118) - [Next: 37.120](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.120) - [Up: 37](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37) ## Translations (1) - [The Natural History of Pliny](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder~en-bostock-riley.37.38) — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.119](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.119) · Pramāṇa