murrhine

American  

[mur-in, -ahyn] / ˈmɜr ɪn, -aɪn /

Or murrine

adjective

1. of, relating to, or manufactured of murra.

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murrhine British  

/ -ɪn, ˈmʌraɪn /

adjective

1. of or relating to an unknown substance used in ancient Rome to make vases, cups, etc

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noun

1. Also called: murra.  the substance so used

Etymology

Origin of murrhine

1570–80; < Latin murr ( h ) inus, for Greek mourrínē, equivalent to mórr ( ia ) murra + -inē feminine noun suffix; see -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Another had a pair of those odorous murrhine vases, which Pompey had found in Armenia, and which on their first appearance set Rome wild; he, too, was invited to die.

From Imperial Purple by Saltus, Edgar

The murrhine cups, of the nature of which there has been much unsatisfactory discussion, according to Pliny, came from Karmania in Parthia; from Parthia they came to Egypt, and thence to Rome.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 18 Historical Sketch of the Progress of Discovery, Navigation, and Commerce, from the Earliest Records to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century, By William Stevenson by Stevenson, William

Sometimes purple glass is used in place of brown, probably with the design of imitating the precious murrhine.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1 "Gichtel, Johann" to "Glory" by Various

I see murrhine cups, for luxury would be too cheap if men did not drink to one another out of hollow gems the wine to be afterwards thrown up again.

From L. Annaeus Seneca on Benefits by Stewart, Aubrey

In the light of heaven he was also of a black colour, but he said that he was not of a black, but of a murrhine colour.

From Earths In Our Solar System Which Are Called Planets, and Earths In The Starry Heaven Their Inhabitants, And The Spirits And Angels There by Swedenborg, Emanuel