[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) › 37.57 # Naturalis historia 37.57 Naturalis historia 37.57 - **Language:** Latin ### [37.57](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.57) incudibus hi deprehenduntur ita respuentes ictus, ut ferrum utrimque dissultet, incudes ipsae etiam exiliant. quippe duritia est inenarrabilis, simulque ignium victrix natura et numquam incalescens, unde et nomen \[interpretatione Graeca indomita vis\] accepit. unum ex iis vocant cenchron , milii magnitudine, alterum Macedonium, in Philippico auro repertum; hic est cucumis semini par. > At the present day, for the first time, there are no less than six different varieties of it recognized. The Indian adamas is found, not in a stratum of gold, but in a substance of a kindred nature to crystal; which it closely resembles in its transparency and its highly polished hexangular and hexahedral form. In shape it is turbinated, running to a point at either extremity, and closely resembling, marvellous to think of, two cones united at the base. In size, too, it is as large even as a hazel-nut. Resembling that of India, is the adamas of Arabia, which is found in a similar bed, but not so large in size. Other varieties have a pallid hue like that of silver, and are only to be found in the midst of gold of the very finest quality. These stones are tested upon the anvil, and will resist the blow to such an extent, as to make the iron rebound and the very anvil split asunder. Indeed its hardness is beyond all expression, while at the same time it quite sets fire at defiance and is incapable of being heated; owing to which indomitable powers it is, that it has received the name which it derives from the Greek. > — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, The Natural History of Pliny > One kind, about as large as a grain of millet in size, has been called "cenchros," and another, that is found in the gold mines at Philippi, is known as the "Macedonian" adamas: this last is about as large as a cucumber-seed in size. We next come to the Cyprian adamas, so called from its being found in the Isle of Cyprus: it is of a colour somewhat inclining to that of copper, but, in reference to its medicinal virtues, of which we shall have to make further mention, it is the most efficacious of them all. Next in succession to this we have siderites, a stone which shines like iron, and is more ponderous than any of the others, but differs in its properties from them all. For it breaks when struck by the hammer, and admits of being perforated by other kinds of adamas; a thing which is the case, also, with that of Cyprus: in short, these two are degenerate stones, and only bear the name of "adamas" for the purpose of enhancing their value. > — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, The Natural History of Pliny - [Previous: 37.56](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.56) - [Next: 37.58](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.58) - [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.37.15.2) — John Bostock & Henry Thomas Riley 1855, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.57](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.la.imperial.pliny-elder.37.57) · Pramāṇa