Gemstones

• The Romans wore Gemstones set in rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and Diadems.
• Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) describes over a hundred Gemstones in his Natural History, mostly derived from India.

Natural History

• Book XXXVII: The Natural History of Precious Stones, chapters 1-77, which includes:
  • Amber
  • Amethysts
    • Pliny describes four varieties.
  • Beryls
    • Pliny describes eight varieties, belonging to the same category as Emeralds.
  • Chardonix
    • a stone with brown, red and white colours.
  • Diamonds (Adamas)
    • Pliny accurately described its hardness and how it was cut into a double hexahedron like today.
  • Emeralds (Smaragdus)
  • Obsidian
    • a volcanic glass.
  • Onyx
    • a stone that occurs in a variety of colours.
  • Opals
    • Pliny describes seven varieties, noted for their various colours.
  • Pearls
    • A Pearl Mania seized Rome during the first century BCE. Pearls achieved enormous prestige and value.
    • Pearls were sewn into furniture, like couches, and into clothing, like ladies gowns. Various Roman authors commented on this obsession with Pearls including Pliny.
  • Rock Crystal
  • Sapphires
  • Tanos
    • a green silicate.
  • Topaz
    • Pliny describes two varieties of this green stone.