large
holes drilled through them. They had been obtained from the troops in
exchange, and still had pieces of gold hanging from them, just as they
had been snatched from the idols which they had decorated. The value of
these Pearls was about £20,000.
Persia.
The
passion for Pearls, which at all times was strongly marked among the
Medes and Persians, probably reached its zenith after the victory over
Croesus. Pearls were prized by the Persians more highly than gold, or
any other article of adornment. All the early Queens of Persia are
represented as wearing ear-rings composed of three Pearls graduated in
size, one above the other, the largest being at the bottom. The
portraits of Sassanian kings, shew a Pearl of great size, pendant from
the right ear. The Persian nobles also wore in the right ear a golden
ornament, containing Pearls—a fashion which also prevailed at a later
period in Athens, amongst youths of noble birth. The women even wore a
ring through the left nostril, upon which were strung three Pearls, and
round their head a band, from which hung pendants of jewels or Pearls.
The kings of the Medes and Persians wore splendid bracelets and
necklaces of Pearls ; Pearls too were lavishly employed in
