Italian term that is often found in various ancient treatises and for the most part interpreted as a synonym of Hematite. Cennino Cennini (end of the 14th Century) speaks of "lapis amatita" as a "strong and hard stone," harder than porphyry and crushed only with the help of a bronze mortar and pestle. On the basis of this description, it was supposed that the term indicated a red jasper that, like Hematite, is dark red in colour due to the presence of iron oxide, thus presenting major strength and density.