Silk was so valuable that it was then sold for an equal weight of gold.

Indeed, a law was passed that no man should disgrace himself by wearing a silken garment.
The Emperor Heliogabalus despised the law, and wore a dress composed wholly of silk.

The example thus set was followed by wealthy citizens.
A demand for silk from the East soon became general.
It was not until about the middle of the sixth century that two Persian monks, who had long resided in China, and made themselves acquainted with the mode of rearing the silkworm, succeeded in carrying the eggs of the insect to Constantinople.

Under their direction they were hatched and fed.

A sufficient number of butterflies were saved to propagate the race, and mulberry trees were planted to afford nourishment to the rising generations of caterpillars.