Dear all,

while I was reading Eliade's Images and Symbols, my attention was struck by his vague reference to an "oriental mythology", which affirms that the pearl was born from the penetration of a lightning inside a shell/oyster.

I think he got this information from Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft (entry: "Margaritai"), but I am not sure at all.

Can someone indicate a more specific reference to this myth? or to other myths related to the pearl?

With my best wishes,

Paolo