9 × 8 inches, known as the “Coronation of Augustus” shows that Emperor enthroned, holding a sceptre in his right hand with Livia by his side as Roma, etc. Between Augustus and Livia is the zodiacal sign Capricorn, under the third degree of which Augustus was born according to Firmicus. Beneath the various figures (Neptune, Cybele, Drusus, Tiberius, Victory, Antonia, wife of Drusus as Abundantia, and her children Germanicus and Claudius), are Roman soldiers erecting trophies, their unhappy captives in the foreground. [Illustration: Venus, Cupid and the Graces A Sardonyx Cameo by Cerbara Newton Robinson Collection Sold at Christie’s, London, in 1909 ] [Illustration: Large and Rare Cameo. The Argonauts Consulting Hygiea Kelsey I. Newman Collection ] The word “cameo” is said to be of unknown derivation. Dr. Brewer says it means “onyx” and there seems evidence enough to indicate that on account of the great use of onyx and sardonyx for cutting symbolic figures in relief, the term onyx was usually accepted as indicating the completed work. The derivation from the Arabic CHEMEIA, a charm, is noted by Mr. King who draws attention to the light in which such relics were universally considered in those ages by Orientals and Europeans alike. The Arabic word has affinity with the Talmudical Hebrew word KHEMEIA, an amulet, and there seems little reason to doubt that Chemeia or Khemeia is the parent of our word “cameo,” known in the ancient world as an onyx, meaning a charm, an amulet or a talisman. CHAPTER XXII THE OPAL THE OPAL IN ASTRO-PHILOSOPHY: PETRUS ARLENSIS DESCRIBES THE OPAL: PLINY’S POETICAL OPINION: THE PAEDEROS CHILD BEAUTIFUL AS LOVE: THE ORPHAN: ROMAN SENATOR AND HIS OPAL: OPHTHALMIOS THE EYE STONE: OPINION OF MEDIAEVAL WRITERS: THE BAY TREE: ALBERTUS MAGNUS AND THE OPALS THAT SPARKLED IN DARKNESS: THE ZODIACAL SIGN OF ROYALTY AND THE OPAL: KERAUNIOS OR THE THUNDER STONE: THE BEAUTY STONE: THE STONE OF HOPE, ACHIEVEMENT AND LOVE: THE LARGE HUNGARIAN OPAL: AUSTRALIAN OPAL FIELDS: SIR DAVID BREWSTER’S THEORY OF COLOURS IN OPALS: DR. G. F. H. SMITH’S EXPLANATION: SENSITIVENESS OF THE OPAL: SUPERSTITION AGAINST OPAL: THE PLAGUE AT VENICE: THE “BURNING OF TROY”: THE CRIMEAN WAR: SCOTT’S ANNE OF GEIERSTEIN: COMBINATIONS OF DIAMONDS AND OPALS: DESTRUCTION OF THE VANITIES AT FLORENCE: STORY OF THE OPAL OF ALFONZO XII OF SPAIN: A CHOLERA STONE FATAL TO THE KING AND TO ALL WHO RECEIVED IT FROM HIM ACCORDING TO ASTROLOGICAL SCIENCE: THE BARON’S OPAL OF FORTUNE. OPAL “_Everyone knows how capriciously the colours of a fine opal vary from day to day and how rare the lights are which fully bring them out._” RUSKIN.