Since the Roman era, pearls have been an essential trade commodity. The Latin word for pearl is “margarita”, meaning something very precious. In the Dark Ages, knights used to wear them on the battlefield, believing that the pearls would keep them safe. In ancient China, pearl jewellery signified the purity of the wearer. They were given as gifts to Chinese royalty in early 2300 BC. Fragments of pearls were found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, which dates back to around 420 BC. The legend is that they were created from dewdrops swallowed by oysters. The world’s oldest gem has been admired since long before written history. It is believed that they were first discovered by people looking for food along the seashore. įor centuries, pearls, also known as the ‘queen of gems’ have been regarded by many cultures as one of the most precious natural minerals on the planet. So I chose things in that way, I wanted them to be complete, and as archetypal as they could be.” – Vivienne on ‘Portrait’. You could fit it with practically any period and it would look great. “I thought the idea of one pearl earring or…three strands of pearls with a pearl drop in the middle was typical of all jewellery. Art works including Renaissance paintings such as Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Venus (the goddess of love) as depicted by Vignon most famously portrayed the precious mineral. Standing the test of time, pearls have remained a part of a discourse spanning centuries. Vivienne Westwood’s use of pearls and the punk movement have played a part in this cultural shift, turning it on its head, whilst keeping their rich history ever pertinent to their meaning. I don't thinkmy brockenspectre could be interpreted as a visionof the Virgin Mary!Īs I say, I am a scientist, but my impetigo was gone within 48 hours.Over time, pearls have made their way down from the upper echelons of the class system and have now infiltrated the mainstream. I can appreciate why a faithful young girl, Bernadette, in Lourdes, might interpret her vision/brocken spectre as being the Virgin Mary. ![]() I am a scientist and have a vague understand of the physics behind the phenomenon, including diffraction. At the summit, I could see the most impressive brocken spectres, and furthermore, the ghost at the centre approached me at pace and merged with my body! Basically the reverse of your spirit leaving your body when you die. ![]() There was a steady breeze, with patches of cloud on the western slopes and sunshine to the southeast. I stopped off on my way south to climb Ben Vrackie. It was not getting any worse, but it was not getting any better either. I applied the penicillin daily as per instructions but it did not go away. I was about to head off on my Summer trip to the Highlands, heading for Barra,up through the western Isles, across to Ullapool, north to visit Cape Wrath, along the north coast to John o' Groats before heading south down the A9. The doctor took a swab to test the pathogen for antibiotic resistance, but prescribed me with penicillin applied externally. We are studying antibiotics.Īround 1997, I was diagnosed with impetigo, caused by Staphylococcus aureus. I was just telling my students in Kazakhstan about when I climbed Ben Vrackie in the 1990s.
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