The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Oval Cornelian [ARK00165]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Cornelian, oval flat decorated with Bust of Hercules. Also in compartment is a cast of the image (b). Cornelian is a red variety of chalcedony, which is cryptocrystalline quartz. Its red colour is due to the presence of iron impurities in the form of iron oxide or hematite. It can vary from a flesh red to a clear red. It is usually cut en cabochon, or into beads, and is also used for intaglios and cameos. Imitations of cornelian are made by the staining of agate. Cornelian is related to amethyst and citrine. Hercules is the Roman name for the mythical Greek hero Heracles, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmena. Early Roman sources suggest that the imported Greek hero supplanted a mythic Italian shepherd called "Recaranus" or "Garanus", famous for his strength. While adopting aspects of the Greek Heracles' mythology as his own, Hercules adopted a number of myths and characteristics that were distinctly Roman.] (approx 1st cent AD)