Ianthinus

IANTHINUS. St. Jerom uses this term often in Exodus, to signify a violet colour. It is derived from the Greek ios, a violet, and anthos, a flower. The Septuagint translate the Hebrew, techashim, a purple colour, which is much the same as a violet. Bochart thinks it to be the same colour as that which the Latins call hysginus, which is a deep blue, or purple inclining Plin. l. 8. c. 48.to black. Pliny; Cocco-tinctum Tyrio tingere, ut fiat hysginum. The Jews generally believe, that the skins of the techashim, Exod. xxv. 7. Hebr. ערה תחשים Ezek. xvi. 10.mentioned by Moses, are the skins of animals; but they are not agreed concerning the kind of these supposed animals. Ezekiel tells Jerusalem, that God had treated her as a beloved Spouse, that he had given her shoes of tachash, of violet or purple colour. Calceavi te Ianthino.

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