Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t10.11

v2.c43.s3.t10.11

The above confusion between chrysolite and topaz was connected with the Sanskrit words: pita meaning yellow and pittaka meaning colour of bile what is green or greenish-yellow. Arthaśāstra mentioned a gem pittaka (AS, 2.11.35) which was most possibly chrysolite. Later, another name came up: ‘rucaka which is yellow, green, red or tawny, found in the borders of Kashmir’ (quoted by Tagore in Maṇimālā, pp. 508-9), and this also could be chrysolite. The Sanskrit word pita was converted to pittdoh in Hebrew and then to tipdoh and topazion. The confusion between pittaka chrysolite and pita topaz is now a matter of history.