The science of gems, jewels, coins, and medals, ancient and modern / by Archibald Billing.

  • Billing, Archibald, 1791-1881.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The science of gems, jewels, coins, and medals, ancient and modern / by Archibald Billing. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    largest of granite, basalt, &c.; tlie small ones and cylinders of “ loadstone/’ black haematite, chalcedony, sardonyx, &c. The beetle was an emblem venera ted by the Egyptians, as the cross with the Christians ; so that it would seem that every individual possessed one, the poorer classes having them made of such a simple material as baked clay. The small scarabs, being of convenient shape and size, were converted into seals, and were engraved on the under side with a device of some kind of figures (21), or a cipher or legend, either in letters or symbols (22), such as are engraved on the obelisks, pyramids, and monuments; and these scarabs are bored with a small hole lengthwise, so as to be worn strung on a thread or wire. Another form of seal is the very primitive one of a flattish round chalcedony pebble, with sufficient ground off one edge to afford space for engraving a subject, and a hole being made through the middle to receive a string; as (12), a chalcedony, brought from Nineveh, having a very rough attempt in intaglio of a winged horse, the Phoenician symbol (13). Sometimes the hole was enlarged enough to admit a finger. This shape was sometimes modified by being made of an oblong instead of a circular pebble, and the hole made near the end opposite to the intaglio—these being evidently formed from chalcedony pebbles of an oblong shape. Some were made approaching a pyramidal shape, but these are of a later date, and present more elaborate lapidary work ; and we have had modern seals made of much the same form, of amethyst, crystal, and other stones, either bored near the top, to receive a ring, or suspended by a golden or other metallic loop—and these are sufficiently orna- mental. When these cylinders and scarabs were first made, man- kind were not acquainted with the mode of cutting or engraving- hard gems, such as precious stones, or flinty agates, or carne- lians, or sardonyx ; but they knew how to break flints and chalcedonies, such as abound in the Nile and elsewhere, by a