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Bible Encyclopedias
Coral
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or Coral (; ), a hard, cretaceous marine production arising from the deposit of calcareous matter by a minute polypus animal, in order to form the cell or polypidom into whose hollows the tenant can wholly or partially retire. The corals thus produced are of various shapes, most usually branched like a tree. The masses are often enormous in the tropical seas, where they top the reefs and cap the submarine mountains, frequently rising to or near the surface so as to form what are called coral islands and coral reefs. These abound in the Red Sea; from which, most probably, was derived the coral with which the Hebrews were acquainted; but coral is also found in the Mediterranean. It is of different colors, white, black, red. The red kind was anciently, as at present, the most valued, and was worked into various ornaments.
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Coral'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/c/coral.html.
