THE PEARLS OF CLEOPATRA

And what if the most beautiful pearls in the world were hidden in Pliny's book?.

By visiting certain literary works, we can appreciate the description of Beautiful gems or from beautiful jewelry. In this regard, let us turn to the naturalist writer of the 1st century, Pliny. He describes in the first known great encyclopedia, The Natural History, the pearls of Queen Cleopatra.

It should be noted that the famous Queen of Egypt wanted to dazzle Marc Antoine. Thus, she bet that she could swallow a fortune during a meal.

 Pliny then recounts: There were two pearls, the largest of all time; they were both owned by Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt; they had been handed over to her after passing through the hands of the kings of the East.

While Antoine was daily fed with sought-after delicacies, Cleopatra, with the arrogance and disdainful pomp of a royal courtier, belittled the entire opulence and arrangement of these feasts; when he asked her what could possibly be added to this magnificence, she replied that she would spend ten million sesterces in a single meal.

Antoine wanted to learn how, but he did not think that it was possible. So they bet, and the next day, the day on which the judgment was to be rendered, a dinner, otherwise magnificent (so that this day would not be wasted), but usual, was served to Antoine, who scoffed and demanded the accounts.

But Cleopatra assured him that it was only a favor, that the banquet would cost the stipulated price and that she alone would dine for ten million sesterces; she ordered that the second course be brought.

In accordance with her instructions, the servants simply placed a vase of vinegar in front of her; the powerful acridity of the vinegar dissolves the pearls. But she wore this work, the most extraordinary and truly unique in nature, the masterpiece without equal, to her ears.

While Antoine waited to see what she would do, she took out one of the pearls, dipped it in the vinegar, and, when it was liquefied, she swallowed it.

As she was about to swallow the other in the same way,
L. Plancus, the referee of this match, raised his hand and declared Antoine the winner, a prediction that came true.

Renown also accompanies the other gem of the pair: when they had captured this queen, who had won the victory in such great controversy, she was cut in two so that the Venus of the Pantheon in Rome could carry to the two ears half of the dinner of Antony and Cleopatra.»

Finally, the pearls fortunately are no longer enjoyed; they are mainly the object of the most tender desires. Like the famous Peregrina dating from the 16th century and worn by several kings and queens. But also by the famous actress Elisabeth Taylor. In fact, Elisabeth Taylor, whose one of the greatest roles was that of Cleopatra.