Pearls have long been attributed with having great powers, and have been incorporated into the mythology of virtually every culture that has encountered them. And no wonder! Given natural pearls' rarity, as well as their mysterious beauty, who could argue that pearls might not indeed be a gift from the gods?
Islamic tradition holds pearls in high regard and the Koran speaks of pearls as one of the great rewards found in Paradise, and the gem itself has become a symbol of perfection.
Christianity also adopted the pearl as a symbol of purity. Many of these ideas have come down to us in pearl lore and legend, and persist even today. For example, pearls are often associated with brides and weddings -- a concept possibly dating all the way back to Krishna and the wedding of his daughter. Pearls are also said to symbolize tears, to provide love and fertility, to symbolize purity, and to ward off evil.
In addition -- and perhaps deriving from their mythological significance -- pearls have often been attributed medicinal qualities and used to treat a wide variety of physical ailments.
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