/6 PRECIOUS STONES.
mines, there is little probability that they will ever cease to be
precioîis on account of their abundance and general use.
Ancient Uses. — The nations of antiquity were very lavish in
personal ornaments, a practice which has been imitated bfl
their successors with remarkable facility. Modern excavations
made in the ruins of ancient buried cities have brought to light
many interesting facts connected with the early use of precious
stones in decorative art. That the Egyptians — one of the
oldest nations of antiquity — made free use of gems for this
purpose, is evident from the articles of jewelry found in their
tombs, and from the pictured walls of their structures. The
paintings at Thebes show they were used for money, since the
subjected nations are there represented bringing their tribute
to Egypt, in the form of precious stones, tied up in bags, made
secure by seals. When Assur-banipal, the Assyrian conqueror,
invaded Egypt, about the middle of the fifth century, B. CI
according to his own account, he despoiled Thebes of a vast
store of valuable treasure, including precious stones, which he
carried off to enrich his own possessions at Nineveh.
Ancient " Egyptian jewelry," says M. Perrot, " is conspicuous for its richness of material and fine proportions, but so
massive that it would seem the artists had borrowed their forms
from their architecture." Various kinds of personal ornaments
have been exhumed from the remains of ancient structures, similar to those worn at the present day, as necklaces, ear and
finger rings, armlets, and bracelets, set with engraved stones,
generally those of an inferior class, comprising the amethyst,
carnelian, lapis-lazuli, turquoise, jasper, and others. The
finest specimens now extant have come down from the great
Theban dynasties long before the time of Moses. Jewels
belonging to an Egyptian queen are seen in the British
Museum ; while the Louvre comprises many more of these
