Distribution of Pcails aiui l\-ail-slic!l. 79 



strinj^s of pearls, most of which no doubt came from the 

 I'ersian (iiilf fisheries."^ In tlie rnins of Baliylon, however, 

 no pearls have been found ; the relatively moist soil con- 

 taining much saltj^etre may account for their non-survival 

 for so man}- agcs."'^ 



Accordiiit; to Kunz and Stevenson (op. dt., p. 405), 

 one of tlic most interesting^ examples of the use of a pearl 

 in ancient times is a beautiful prehistoric pearl pin from 

 Paphos, on the Island of Cyprus, which is mounted with 

 a lari^e marine pearl measuring 14 mm. in diameter, and 

 weighini:^ about 70 i^rains. It is surmounted by a small 

 fresh-water pearl 4 mm. in diameter. 



In excavations made in the Huaran district in Syria, 

 a number of pearls were found in a rock-cut tomb said to 

 l-)e of Roman origin. The pearls were still attached to a 

 bronze wire with which they had been strung. A pearl 

 pin and a single earring bearing a ])earl have also been 

 recorded from a rock-tomb at Ca^sarea, in Syria.-"' 



Pearls were esteemed by the Greeks in the time of 

 Homer, who appears to allude to them under the name 

 Tpiy\t]i'<i ^triple drops or bead<) in his description of Juno, 

 in the Iliad, xiv., 1.S3; and in the Odysse}', xviii., 298. 

 Classical designs of Juno usually show the three pear- 

 shaped pearls pendent from her ears. The pearls of the 

 ancient Greeks were obtained i)robably through the 

 medium of the Phoenicians, and during the Persian wars 

 of the fifth century B.C., they doubtless extended their 

 acquaintance with the.se beautiful gems."' 



The necklaces and earrings, on the heads of female 

 divinities, goddes.ses, and nymphs, represented on Greek 

 coins from the fifth century B.C., are considered b}' man}' 



^* Ibid., p. 31. • 



-^ Kunz and Stevenson, op. (it., p. 5. 

 ""• Ibid., p. 406. 

 -" Ibid., p. 8. 



