Home1815 Edition

AMPHICOME

Volume 2 · 83 words · 1815 Edition

in Natural History, a kind of figured stone, of a round shape, but rugged, and beset with eminences, celebrated on account of its use in divination. The word is originally Greek, *ἀφικόμενος*, q. d. *utrinque comata*, or, "hairy on all sides." This stone is also called *Erotylus*, *Ephesius*, *Amatorius*, probably on account of its supposed power of creating love. The amphicome is mentioned by Democritus and Pliny. Mercatus takes it for the same with the *lapis lubricans*, of which he gives a figure.