Scipio Africanus was honored with two hundred and thirtyfour of these jewels to be carried in his triumphal procession,
while those of Cassar, on a similar occasion, numbered two
thousand two hundred and eighty. Claudius, after his
conquest in Britain, was presented with two crowns, weighing
seven hundred and nine hundred pounds respectively, ponderous· ornaments even for a sturdy Roman.
It is remarkable that with other numerous relics of antiquity, so few royal diadems have been preserved ; indeed,
scarcely any have come down to the present age except by
historical records, until the discoveries near Toledo, in the
middle of the present century, and, more recently, by the
researches of Schliemann and other antiquaries, in Greece and
Asia Minor.
The Spanish-Gothic crowns found in 1S58 are monuments
of Roman art after its decline. They comprise eight crowns
and coronets of gold and precious stones, relics of the Gothic
kings and nobles, and are now deposited in the Musée de
Cluny, Paris. Some of these diadems are too small to be
worn by an adult, and were probably intended for other
purposes, it may have been for mortuary offerings at the
tombs of the kings.
The largest crown belonged to King Receswinthus, who
flourished about the middle of the seventh century, and
consists of a circlet of gold embellished with large pearls,
rubies, sapphires, opals, and emeralds, with the name of the
king in gold letters suspended by small chains. Another
diadem, similarly decorated has been referred to the queen, and
others, less conspicuous for ornament, to the nobles ; none of
the gems were cut with facets. These valuable relics were
discovered in a deserted cemetery at Fuente di Guerrazar, two
leagues from Toledo.
