68 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 
used in decorating her statue in the Parthe- 
non. | 
“ Nevertheless the dissolving and drinking 
of such a costly draught would scarcely have 
surpassed the extravagancies indulged in by 
the ancient nations of wealth. Fabulous sums 
were paid for pearls, and they were used with 
greatest prodigality. Whole crowns were made 
of them; idols and images were studded and 
encrusted with them; and they were wrought 
into the most delicate and beautiful of fabrics. 
The earliest records concerning the use of 
gems among the ancient Babylonians, Egyp- 
tians, and Persians show that pearls were re- 
garded as among the richest gifts of Nature. 
By the Romans the mania for their possession 
was even greater. 
“ Mithradates, the formidable opponent of 
the Romans, as you were reading this morning, 
was also not only a lover of wars, but a con- 
siderable lover of the arts as well. When he 
was conquered by Pompey and his magnificent 
collection of gems was taken, quantities of 
pearls were found, some of them wrought into 
most exquisite and elaborate designs. Among 
them was a portrait of the king himself cun- 
ningly fashioned entirely of pearls in mosaic. 
“The settings of your ring, Undine,” said 
