Not our gypsum, but the oriental alabaster, translucent, with red, yellow, and gray streaks clue to admixture of oxides of iron with a fibrouscarbonate of lime. A calcareous marble like spar, wrought into boxes or vessels, to keep precious ointments from spoiling (Pliny H. N., 13:8). Mark 14:3; "broke the box," i.e., broke the seal on the mouth of it, put there to prevent, evaporation of the odor (Luke 7:37).