(adj. ἐλεφάντινος, noun τὸ ἐλεφάντινον, fr. [Note: fragment, from.] ἐλέφας; Skr. [Note: Sanskrit.] ebhas, Lat. ebur, Fr. ivoire)
Ivory was prized by all the civilized nations of antiquity. The OT contains a dozen references to its beauty and value. ‘Every article of ivory’ (Revelation 18:12) was found in the market of the apocalyptic Babylon (Rome). It was used for the adornment of palaces, for sculpture, for the inlaying of furniture and chariots, for numberless domestic and decorative objects. ‘Ebur Indicum’ (Hor. Car. i. xxxi. 6; cf. Verg. Georg. i. 57) was known to everyone. Statues (Georg. i. 480), sceptres (Ov. Met. i. 178), lyres (Hor. Car. ii, xi. 22), scabbards (Ov. Met. iv. 148), sword-hilts (Verg. aen. xi. 11), seals (Cic. Verr. ii. iv. 1), couches (Hor. Sat. ii. vi. 103), doors (Verg. aen. vi. 148), curule chairs (Hor. Ep. I. vi. 54) are samples of Roman workmanship in ivory. As the substance is so hard and durable, many ivory works of art have come down from the ancient world.
James Strahan.