Greece. 3 5 



to the enjoyment of their riches and the extension 

 of commerce ; but gradually their simple tastes be- 

 came corrupted, and engendered a love of display. 

 Pearls came into requisition for purposes of deco- 

 ration. Like the Persian nobles, Grecian men of 

 rank wore one Pearl ear-ring in the right ear, while 

 the women wore one in each ear. The women's 

 neck ornament, as depicted on Greek vases, consisted 

 of a string or gold wire hanging loosely round the 

 neck, with Pearls or precious stones strung upon it. 

 It is probable that Pearls are referred to by Homer, 

 in his description of the ear-ornaments of Hera, or 

 Juno : 



" In three bright drops, 

 Her glittering gems suspended from her ears." 



Iliad xiv. 



Theophrastus, the favourite pupil of Aristotle, wri- 

 ting about 300 B.C., mentions the Pearl under the 

 name of juapyapirr^g {Margarites), His notice how- 

 ever is very brief, and though aware that it was 

 produced by shell-fish, he classes it among precious 

 stones. In his day, Pearls were valued for necklaces 

 or bracelets, and in describing their size he compares 

 them to the eyes of rather large fish. Athen^us, 

 a learned Greek who lived about 230 A.D., gives a 

 short description of Pearls, though he represents 

 them as having been sold for their weight in gold ; 



