The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-16
NOTED RINGS OF ANTIoUITY-R1NG SU.
PERSTITIONS.

| W ana OF universal fashion. One OF the
colossal figures of antiquity is Suphis, OF
Cheops, King of Memphis, who during his
lifetime caused the Great Pyramid to be
built for his tomb. Every decree connect
ed with the building of the Great Pyramid
or with the thousands of men employed on
| it, was sealed with the signet ring of Su-
phis. No other finger ring was ever con-
nected with such vast human work. The
Great Pyramid, which may have cast it's
shadows over Alexander and Cambyses,
still points sunward a monument of one
mans vanity and power; and the same
ring which tells all its marvellous story
CLEANS as brightly to-day as when it gilt
tered on the hand of Cheops, more than
three thousand years ago. This is the
most valuable ring of antiquity in the
world. This ring is in the highest state of
preservation, and was found at Ghizeh, in
tomb near that excavation of Colonel
Vyse's called Campbell's Tomb. 1t is of
fine gold. The stole of the hieroglyphics
is in perfect accordance with those in the
tombs about the Great Pyramid, and the
hieroglyphics with the oval make the name
of that Pharaoh of whom the Pyramid was
the tomb.
Solomon was said to own ring which
possessed magical powers. Pharaoh gave
ring to Joseph, the patriarch, as sign
of his delegated authority. When the Ro-
man ambassador required the King of
Bithynia to give Hannibal up, the latter,
on the point of the Kings doing so, swal-
lowed poison, which he always carried
about in his ring. In the time of Alexan-
der the Great it was customary in Athens
to wear magnificent rings with engraved
stones. 1t is recorded that Demosthenes
was fond of finger rings. The Romans
collected cases of rings, many of which are.
mentioned as being at Rome; among these
was that which Pompey the Great took
from Mithridates, and dedicated to Jupiter
in the capital. Upon Pompey's ring were
engraved three trophies, as emblems of his
three triumphs over the three parts of the
world-Europe, Asia, aud Africa.
Caesars ring bore an armed Venus. On
that Of Augustus there was first sphinx,
afterwards the image of Alexander the
Great, and at last his own, which the sue
ceeding Emperors continued to use. Nero's
signet bore Apollo Staying Marsyas. This
Emperor's musical vanity led him to adopt
it. When the practice of deifying the
traits of men took the place of more an
cient types. This custom gave birth to
the cameo, when Greek artists were en-
couraged to settled in Rome in order to
supply the demand for these beautiful Or
naments. Seneca mentions ring set with
the head of Tiberius in cameo. The stones
principally used by the Greeks and Ro-
mans for cameo-cutting were the agate,
onyx, and the Indian sardonyx; the latter
was most priced on occount of variety of
tint in its different beds or layers, and the
beautiful warm transparent cornelian-like
ground. The ring of Nonius contained the
largest opal known to the ancients, on ac-
count of which its possessor was proscrib-
ed by Mark Antony. 1t was of the size of
a hazel-nut, and was valued at sum equal
to 100000 of our money. When Nonius
took to flight he carried nothing with him
but this ring. GLOW marvellous" adds
Pliny, 'must have been the cruelty, how
marvellous the luxurious passion of Anton
ius, thus to prescribe a man for the pos
session of a jewel; and no less marvellous
must have been the obstinacy of Nonius,
who could thus dote upon what had been
the cause OF this prescription" Coming
down to more modern times, we are told
that the ring which George Washington
placed on the finger of his bride Mrs.
Martha Gusts, the beautiful young widow,
in January, 175S) is still preserved. 1t is
gold ring set with topaz. The topaz is
derived from the Island Topazion, which
was supposed to be situated in the Red
Sea. There are two kinds of topazes. The
superior is a golden color; the other in
clines to a greenish yellow. The second
species were called chrysopas,a name which
indicates the blending of gold and leek CO.
stone is called in the Chaldean dialect jar
ken green, which is the equivalent to
praise.
Giving ring in marriage ceremonies is
supposed to indicate the eternity of the
union, seeing that circle is endless. The
Jewish bridegroom puts the ring on the
fore-finger of the BRIDES right hand, and
this is the rule in the Greek Church also.
In the Roman and Anglican, the ring is
placed on the fourth finger of the woman's
left hand, the origin of which has been
mnch disputed. Sir Thomas Browne APP
propriates chapter to this inquiry, OBJ
serving:-"An opinion there is, which
magnities the fourth finger of the left hand,
presuming therein cordial relation, that
particular vessel, nerve, vein, or artery,
is conferred thereunto from the heart; and,
therefore that hath especially the honor to
bear our rings" Sir Thomas then refers
to this practice as common not only in
Christian but heathen nuptial contracts.
Pliny states that in the portraits of the
next the thumb; that the Romans wore
them on the middle finger, as the ancient
Gauls and BritOns, and some upon the
forefinger, as is deducible from Julius Pol
lux, who names that ring Coronas. Since,
therefore, the practice differs in various
countries, we can scarcely refer it to any
natural cause which would alike affect all.
Sir Thomas next examines the anatomical
details of nerve, vein and artery; adding
that inspection does not 'confirn partic-
ular vessel in his finger," and that ''these
propagations being communicated unto
both hands, we have no greater reason to
wear our rings on the left than ON the
right" The Laram Manual, as old as 1885,
says:-"The ring should be so placed be-
cause in this medicine finger is certain
vein which goes directly to the heart"
Among the Jews there sometimes was
an exchanging of rings, the bride first Civ
ing plain ring of silver, and receiving