Distribulio7i of Pearls aftd Pearl-sliell. 8 1 



From Greece the admiration for pearls spread to Rome, 

 where thej' were knoHii hy the Greei< word margaritce, 

 as well as the Roman name unio. According to Pliny 

 (bk. ix., ch. 59), the Romans used the latter name to 

 distinguish a pearl of remarkable size. This celebrated 

 Roman naturalist, who regarded pearls as formed by dew 

 or rain falling into the gaping shells of the pearl-oyster,*" 

 tells us that after the surrender of Alexandria, these gems 

 came into common, and indeed universal, use at Rome ; 

 but they first began to be used there during the Jugurthan 

 wars.*' 



The Romans were deeply affected by pearls, and these 

 gems took precedence over all others. Roman ladies 

 wore necklaces and ear-drops of pearls, and dresses were 

 lavishly covered with these gems. They were worn even 

 at night that in their sleep the owners might be conscious 

 of the possession of such valuable jewels. Plinj'" gives us 

 a graphic description of the pearls and other ornaments 

 worn by the Roman empress Lollia Paulina at an ordi- 

 nary wedding entertainment. It was not unusual for the 

 Romans to adorn their horses and other favourite animals 

 with splendid necklaces ; and it is said that " Incitatus," 

 the favourite horse of the Emperor Caligula, wore a pearl 

 collar. Pearls also decorated the altars in the Roman 

 temples, and the furniture of the houses, while their war- 

 chariots shone with them. Philo Judaeus speaks of the 

 couches upon which the Romans reclined at meal-times 

 as being ornamented with tortoise-shell and ivory, and 

 shining with gold and pearls. He also adds that upon the 

 couches lay purple coverings embroidered in gold or 

 pearls. Under successive emperors sumptuary laws were 



= ^ Pliny, " N.H." bk. ix., ch. 54. 

 '= Ibid., bk. ix., ch. 59. 

 " Iliid., bk. is., ch. 5S. 



