All About Pearls and Their Uses Throughout History

There is a magic charm in the Pearl that seems to have fascinated the world in various ages and countries. The modest splendour and purity of the jewel made it the favourite of all others among the Orientals. Chares, of Mitylene, alludes to the Margaritae necklaces as far more highly valued by the Asiatics than those made of gold. The Romans went wild over them, and of all the articles of luxury and ostentation known to them, pearls appear to have been most esteemed. Pompey, as the richest spoils of his victories in Asia, displayed in his procession into Rome, after his triumph over the third continent, among his treasures, thirty-three crowns made of pearls, a temple of the Muses with a dial on the top, and a figure of himself, formed of the same materials. This roused the ire of the Stoic Pliny, but contributed to the popular passion for obtaining these jewels. He remarks of Lollia Paulina (wife of the Emperor Caligula) that she was covered with emeralds and pearls, strung alternately, glittering all over her head, hair, bandeau, necklaces, and fingers, valued at forty millions of sesterces (400,000 pound).

Servilia, the mother of the famous Brutus, received from Julius Caesar a pearl as a present which cost the donor 50,000 pound. The celebrated pearls of Cleopatra, worn as ear-rings, were valued at 161,457 pound.

The famous feat of swallowing a costly pearl, related of this queen, is recorded to have been tried, somewhat before, by Clodius, son of Aesopus the player, who, having discovered that dissolved pearls possessed the most exquisite flavour, did not confine his knowledge to himself, but gave one apiece to each of his guests to swallow.

In former times, powdered pearls were considered invaluable for stomach complaints!