Pearls Before Swine

We've all heard the Proverb, 'Cast Not Your Pearls Before Swine' recorded in the Book of Books. The wise axiom was based on two well established facts about pearls:

1. Natural Pearls were in circulation during the Greco-Roman Period.
2. Natural Pearls in the Greco-Roman Period were highly valued.

And now archaeology agrees with the historian - Pliny, in that ladies wore Natural Pearl earrings - (well, at least a girl wore a pearl earring) in Old Jerusalem, long before seventeenth-century Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer's brush-stroke ever touched the canvas of 'Girl With The Pearl Earring' !

The antiquities authority in Israel state that archeologists have excavated a gold PEARL earring beneath a parking lot next to the walls of Jerusalem's old city. (Chareston Daily Mail, Thursday November 27, 2008).

One would have thought, that the admonition to "cast not your pearls before swine" would have been well received by the Roman ladies of the time, who loved wearing lux jewelry. However, Pagans and Christians were united in their condemnation of the love of luxury exhibited by the Roman ladies.

The historian, Pliny tells us, Lollia Paulina, Caligula's wife, at an ordinary function, wore emeralds and pearls on her head, hair, ears, neck, arms and fingers! Pliny further states, that women, wore, two or three pearls in their ears so that they "rattled".

Pearls were highly esteemed in the Holy Land even back in Ancient Jerusalem, and we have the proverb to thank for this knowledge, in that it instructs us, way back in the mists of time, not to throw our pearls before swine.

Archaeologists, have confirmed that Natural Pearl ear-rings, were worn by the Hebrews of Jerusalem, or dangled from the ear-lobe of at least one girl in the Holy Land 2000 years ago! The excavated ancient pearl earring, you can see in the above image on this page is physical evidence!

It's hard to imagine that any type of pearl, especially a Natural pearl, which is mainly all nacre, could survive this long, but archaeology proves that Natural pearls of lasting quality, can indeed survive over this great time-span.

So, once upon a time in Jerusalem, a Hebrew girl actually wore a pearl ear-ring, thousands of years before a brushstroke ever touched the canvas of the Dutch Mona Lisa - the name they call the girl in the famous painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring, as the following true story confirms...

The antiquities authority in Israel say that archeologists have excavated a gold PEARL earring beneath a parking lot next to the walls of Jerusalem's old city. (Chareston Daily Mail, Thursday November 27, 2008).

The earring was discovered during an excavation of the ruins of a building from the Byzantine period, dating from between the 1st-4th century, A.D.

The authorities also say, the earring is inlaid with NATURAL PEARLS and emeralds and would have been made between the first century B.C. and the beginning of the fourth century A.D.

This ancient gold pearl earring is reported to be around 2,000-years old! The authorities said the pearl earring was "astonishingly well-preserved." The earring appears to have been crafted using a technique similar to that depicted in portraits from the Greco-Roman period in Ancient Egypt.

Natural Pearls

Click Here to purchase a strand of natural Persian Gulf pearls with an authentication certificate included.

Very few matched strands of Natural Pearls even exist. Those that do often sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. They are either sold singularly as a collector's item, or set as centerpieces in unique jewelry.

Yachtsman and financier Cartier, won't be casting his pearls before swine, that's for certain - he purchased the landmark Cartier store on Fifth Avenue in New York for $100 cash and a double strand of matched Natural Pearls valued at $1 million. (freely rendered from answers.com)

Besides x-ray examination the best tests, that I've found that will help you identify between natural and cultured making identifcation fairly easy can be found here. Don't hide your pearls away in jewelry boxes- it's tantamount to casting pearls before swine- take your pearls out tonight and put them to their original purpose - to highlight a woman's natural beauty.

From the list of gemstones, Pearls like Opals need special consideration when it comes to jewelry storage. All types of of pearls, except Pearl Imitations require moisture and therefore storing pearls in a safety deposit box over long periods of time is definitely not recommended.

Whether you have a strand of Mikimoto pearls, or are fortunate to own Natural Pearls, one of the best ways to care for pearls and keep them in the best condition is to actually wear them. Your skin's natural oils will help to keep them lustrous and in good condition.

It's a fact, long before Kokichi Mikimoto marketed Cultured pearls, pearl farming goes back to ancient times.

Natural marine pearls, were called "orients" by the old-timers, and have always been highly prized. This is due to a number of factors which include, rarity, beauty, supply and demand. And when the demand exceeds supply then the price goes up.

It's little wonder these little pearls are called the 'gem of queens' and the' queen of gems'.

And the counsel from the scriptures that instruct us (as if we really need it) not to cast your pearls before swine, is proof from the Bible itself.

So, with the recent excavation, we can conclude two important details:

1. That pearls CAN survive 2,000 years, although not highly ranked on the Mohs scale of hardness.

2. Once upon a time in Jerusalem, lived a girl with a pearl earring.

Reference:

Higgins, R., Greek & Roman Jewellery, University of California Press, Berkley & Los Angeles, 1961.

Return to the top of Pearls Before Swine Page

Return from Pearls before Swine to Information on Pearls

Return to Antique Jewelry Investor Home Page