The Greeks and Romans wore them in great profusion. Hannibal, after the battle of Cannae, sent as a trophy to Carthage, three bushels of gold rings from the fingers of the Roman knights slain in battle . Martial says of one Charinus that he wore six on each finger , and never laid them aside, either at night or when bathing. The fops had rings of different sizes for summer and winter . Demosthenes was so conspicuous for this kind of ornament that, at a time of public disaster, it was stigmatized as unbecoming vanity .
Frequent mention is made of their enormous cost .
The possible beauty of these latter will be appreciated by those who have seen the elegant gold and iron jewelry made at Toledo, in Spain . Sometimes they were of amber, ivory , or porcelain. The practice of wearing rings was adopted by the early Christians . Many of their rings were adorned with the symbols of the faith - the cross , the anchor , the monogram of Christ , etc. Among the rings found in the catacombs are some with a key, and some with both a key and a seal, for both locking and sealing a casket.