Naturalis historia 37.120

37.120

Caeruleae et sappiri, rarumque ut cum purpura. optimae apud Medos, nusquam tamen perlucidae. praeterea inutiles scalpturis intervenientibus crystallinis centris. quae sunt ex iis cyanei coloris, mares existimantur.

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.