[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) › 37.120 # Naturalis historia 37.120 Naturalis historia 37.120 - **Language:** Latin ### [37.120](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.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. > — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, The Natural History of Pliny - [Previous: 37.119](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.119) - [Next: 37.121](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.121) - [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.37.39) — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.120](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.120) · Pramāṇa