Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s1.t2.3

v1.c24.s1.t2.3

India also sent to Rome pale, honey-coloured and orange-coloured sapphires and ‘nilion’, dark blue sapphire (Sanskrit nīlamaṇi and nīlaratna). The Indian ‘chrysolithi’ was probably yellowish sapphire, which are still sold in Sri Lanka as (false) topazes. The Roman chroniclers were often unable to trace the origin of these minerals, because the Sri Lankan and Indian products were sometimes sold to them through intermediaries like the Axumites.