How old are pearls in jewelry ?
Many thousands of years ago, long before written history, human beings probably discovered the first pearl while searching the seashore for food. Countless references to the pearl can be found in the religions and mythology of cultures from the earliest times. The ANCIENT EGYPTIANS prized pearls so much they were buried with them. Cleopatra reportedly dissolved a single pearl in a glass of wine and drank it, simply to win a wager with Mark Antony that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal. In ANCIENT ROME, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing. The GREEKS held the pearl in high esteem for both its unrivaled beauty and its association with love and marriage. During the DARK AGES, while fair maidens of nobility cherished delicate pearl necklaces, gallant knights often wore pearls into battle. They believed the magic of these lustrous gems would protect them from harm. Throughout history, pearl has been one of appraised and co
