I like the earring
It's not that easy to find quality jewelry for men, this one is a very nice piece. I like the style - usually the best you could wish for is unisex, this one is clearly made for men. Wore it for about two month in a row, still in a good shape (my concern was that silver hook may bend easily but so far it's as good as new)<br /><br />Inscription on the back side is 'Борiтеся поборите' which is 'Fight and you'll prevail' in Ukrainian.<br /><br />I looks like Cossack tradition of wearing earrings roots in earlier slavic traditions - Svyatoslav, one of the first rulers of Kievan Rus was described by Greeks wearing an earring.<br />Utilitarian application is to mark the youngest male (earring in left ear) or the only male child (earrings in both ears) in the family. During an operation person in charge was able to see people who may be the only support for their families and avoid risking their lives excessively (you had to volunteer of course to avoid cowardice speculations). Also if interaction with then-almost-totally muslim population of Crimea didn't go well (you may imagine kind of interaction between a Cossack pirate republic and state they routinely pillaged) instead of decapitation captive may hope that he is going to be held for a ransom.
Rating: 5 stars