Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t5.6

v2.c43.s3.t5.6

Topaz was found in the former times in Abyssinia and in the same district of Egypt in which emerald occurred, and it is likely that the two minerals were imported together to India. The stone was called in Hebrew pittdoh, which was possibly derived from the Sanskrit pīta or yellow. The modern name ‘topaz’ was derived from the Greek topazion which meant ‘to seek’. An island in the Red Sea, usually covered by mist, was named Topazion and the yellow mineral found in this island was also given the same name. Pliny confused the nomenclature by calling this not-so-hard yellow mineral (actually peridot) as ‘topazion’ and labelling the actual hard topaz found in Abyssinia and Egypt as chrysolite. Topaz or puṣparāga was known in the Muslim period as pokhrāj. Yellow corundum and yellow quartz were recognised (through their different values of hardness) as ‘false topaz’.