234 THE CURIOUS LORE OF PRECIOUS STONES
Cardinal
Stefano Borgia (1731-1804), for some time secretary of the College of
the Propaganda in Rome, who probably acquired it from some missionary
to the East. From the cardinal's family it passed for 15,000 lire
($3000) to the Tyszkiewicz Collection, and when the objects therein
comprised were disposed of at public sale, the writer purchased it for
the American Museum of Natural History in New York, April 16, 1902.15
At
Alicante, in Spain, cut upon the pedestal of an ancient statue,
supposed to have been that of Isis, was found an inscription giving a
list of the offerings dedicated by divine command, by a certain Fabia
Fabiana in honor of her granddaughter. Evidently the fond grandmother
had given of her best and choicest jewels which were used to adorn the
statue. They consisted of a diadem set with a "unio" (a large round
pearl) and six smaller pearls, two emeralds, seven beryls, two rubies,
and a hyacinth. In each ear of the statue was inserted an ear-ring
bearing a pearl and an emerald; about the neck was hung a necklace
consisting of four rows of emeralds and pearls, eighteen of the former
and thirty-six of the latter. Two circlets bound around the ankles
contained eleven beryls and two emeralds, while two bracelets were
set with eight emeralds and eight pearls. The adornment was completed
by four rings, two bearing emeralds, while two, placed on the little
finger, were set with diamonds. On the sandals were eight beryls.16
15 For a fullerkdescription of this valuable relic, and a discussion of the meaning·
of the inscription, see "On the ancient inscribed Sumerian (Babylonian)
axe-head for the Morgan Collection in the American Museum of Natural
History," by George Frederick Kunz, with translation by Prof. Ira
Maurice Price and discussion by Dr. William Hayes Ward. Bulletin of the
Museum, vol. xxi, pp. 37-47, April 6, 1905.
" Montfaucon, " L'antiquité expliquée," vol. ii, Pt. II, 1719, pp. 324, 325; Plate 136.
