A deep green member of the beryl family, the emerald is a rare of the so called precious gems. Though sources for emeralds are found in both the old and new worlds, a stone of good quality is still an elusive object. Emeralds without flaw are almost unattainable, as the gem exhibits many natural inclusions, but these do not necessarily mar the stone's intense green beauty. Queen Cleopatra of Egypt mined emeralds near Zabara on the red sea coast in the first century B.C., wearing the jewels herself or giving them as gifts to favored friends. Julius Caesar particularly valued the gem, to which he ascribed strong curative powers. Emeralds (which had probably been exported from Egypt) were found in the buried roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. In Meso-America, emeralds were treasured by the native cultures, particularly the Incas, to whom they were sacred. When the Spanish conquistadors plundered the Inca Empire for gold and jewels, many remarkable large emeralds were taken to Europe, where they entered the treasuries of royalty or were traded with Persian and Indian courts. Today, the major source of emeralds is South America, especially Columbia, where mines first worked by Pre-Columbian cultures are still in use. The rarity of the emerald has al ways made it a valuable and potent talisman, and the bright velvety green of the gem makes it as desirable today as it has always been through the ages.