Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-12
CURIOSITIES OF THE MARRIAGE
'sa9i CEREMONIAL.
arriare In AssyrIa and BabyIol

Marriage In Assyria and Babylon.
Among the ancient Assyrians all
manageable young girls were as
sembled in one place, and the pub
lie crier put them up to sale one.
after another. The money which
was received for those who were.
handsome, and consequently sold
well, was bestowed as a wedding
portion on those who were plain.
When the most beautiful had been
disposed of, the more ordinary look
ing were offered for a certain sum,
and allotted to those who we're will
ling to take them. Hence all the
women were provided with hus
bands.
The Babylonians, like the Assyri-
ans, held kind of market of their
daughters at certain times every
year. They were assembled in a
public place, whore they were ex
posed to general view, and disposed
of to the best bidders by the public
crier. The money given for the
purchase of the handsome ones was
applied to portion out those who
were deficient in personal attrac
tons. The custom was said to
have originated with Atossa, the
daughter of Beloehus-
ANGLO SAXON CUSTOMS.
The Anglo Saxons held the nup-
tial tie in the greatest respect, and
no marriage was lawful without the
consent Of the woman's Mandbora
or guardian. (
If such consent was not obtained,
the husband was liable to penalties,
and he acquired no legal rights over
either the wife or her goods. For
this consent the lover always paid
a mede or price in the nature OF a
present, according to the rank Of
the lady. 1t was therefore advan-
| tageous to a father that the ''spin1
dle-side,' or female part of his
family, to use Alfred's term, should
out-number the ''spear-side, or
male members thereof. The parties
were solemnly contracted, and q
friend of the bridegroom became
surety for the woman's good treatf
ment and maintenance. Her dow
cry was fixed; and all the relations
| of both parties within the third de>
gree were invited to the marriage
| feast. Each one made some present
| to the couple; and the Mandbora
gave them arms, furniture cattle
and money. This was called the
| Faderfrum, or father 8 gift, and was
all the fortune that the bridegroom
received. (
| On the day before the wedding,
which generally took place within
six or eight weeks from the time Of
the contract, the invited friends OF
the bridegroom went to his house,
where they spent the day in feast
| ing. On the next morning they
went armed and on horseback to
the house of the bride, under the
conduct of the foremost man, to re-
ceive her and conduct her to her
husband. This martial show was
both for compliment and to prevent
a rescue by any former lover. The
| bride was led by the matron, called
| the brideswoman, followed by many
| young women, termed the brides
maids, and attended by her Mand
bora and other male relations. On
her arrival she was received by the
bridegroom and solemnly betrothed
| by her guardian. /
The united companies then pro-
| ceeded to the church, attended by
musicians. No marriage was law
| full without the presence of the
| Mandbora at the ceremony, and he
gave the bride to the bridegroom,
| saying: 81 give her to be thy hon
| or and thy wife; to keep thy keys
| and share with thee in thy bed and
| goods" The parties received the
nuptial benedictien from the priest,
| sometimes under a vail or square
piece of cloth, called the care cloth,
held at each corner by man, TO
conceal the brides bushes; but
| this was not used in cases where the
bride was widow. After the BEN
ediction both of the parties were
| crowned with flowers, which were
kept in the church for the purpose
| A ring was used at the marriage as
we'll as at the betrothal. Some au
thors say that at the marriages q
| the Anglo Saxons the Mandbors
presented the bridegroom with one
of the brides shoes, as token o
: the transfer of authority, and sh,
was made to feel the change by /:
blow on her head with the shoe
The husband was bound by oath t
use his wife well, on failure Q
which she might leave him; but h
was allowed to bestow a moderat
castigatlon upon her.