Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s2.t2.6

v1.c24.s2.t2.6

Pliny recorded (33.38 and 8.12) the mythological background and noted errors made by physicians in his day, of prescribing the poisonous Spanish cinnabar (mineral) instead of the Indian vegetable product. He even suggested different names for the two different materials (resemblance was of colour only), but his suggestions were not heeded. (Schoff, 1912: 137-39) Was this, the source of alchemical confusion about ‘the miraculous and medicinal properties’ of mercury? The word cinnabar was equivalent to Persian *zinjafr* or *zinjarf* and Hindu (?) *shangarf* (from *saṅgharṣa* or battle?).