Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s2.t2.2

v1.c24.s2.t2.2

The Romans brought to Muziris and Nelcynda alone, the yellow arsenic sulphide orpiment which was used in the old paintings of Sri Lanka and India. Like realgar and lapis lazuli, orpiment is also a durable mineral pigment, the name being derived from (golden coloured) auri pigmentum. Pliny wrote (6.26) that orpiment was obtained from the valleys of Hyctanis, a river of Carmania which had an excellent harbour in its mouth.