plant, and it entered into the composition of many spirituous extracts, which retained the same scent. (See Pliny, XIII, 2.)
Lucan (Pharsalia, IX, 809) refers to the “ sweet-smelling essence of saffron that issues from the limbs of a statue.”
Saffron also entered into many of the scented salves or balsams. It was much adulterated by adding the stigmata of other plants, such as the safflower (Carthamus tincturius, order Compositae), and the marigold (Calendula officinalis, order Compositae).
Pliny (XXI, 81) says, “ Saffron is blended with wine or water and is extremely useful in medicine. It is generally kept in horn boxes. Applied with egg it disperses all kinds of inflammations, those of the eyes in particular; it is employed also for hysterical suffocations, and for ulcerations of the stomach, chest, kidneys, liver, lungs, and bladder. It is particularly useful in cases of inflammation of those parts, and for cough and pleurisy. . . . . The flower is used locally with Cimolian chalk for erysipelas.” (See also Beckmann, op. cit., I, 175–7.)
24. Sweet rush.—The text is kyperos. There is much confusion among the Roman writers between various species of aromatic rush, some including the calamus of the Hebrew anointing oil (Exodus XXX), which was probably Acorus calamus, Linn., order Arvideae; a semi-aquatic sub-tropical herb, useful medicinally and as a flavor. But Pliny (XIII, 2) distinguishes between “ Syrian calamus ” and “ Syrian sweet-rush,” both components of the Parthian “ regal ointment;” so that sweet-rush may rather have been Andropogon schoenanthus, Linn., order Gramineae. An account of its production is given by Pliny (XII, 48), and of its medicinal properties (XXI, 70). That most highly esteemed, he says, came from near the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Egypt; the next best from Rhodes. It had an odor resembling that of nard; and aside from its use in perfumes and ointments, it was employed as a diuretic, and with wine and vinegar for throat ulcers, or in liniments for ulcerous sores generally.
It is possible, also, that the kyperos of the text may have been the Egyptian papyrus (Cyperus papyrus, Linn., order Cyperaceae); used, according to Pliny (XIII, 21–2) for boat-building, sails and mats, cloths, coverlets and ropes, and the roots for fuel. He notes it as a product of Syria, growing in conjunction with the sweet calamus, and much favored by King Antiochus for cordage for his navy, instead of spartum, which was preferred by the Romans. Again (XXXIII, 30) he says papyrus was used for smelting copper and iron, being favored next to pine wood.
