The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-11
RINGS OF THEANCIENTS.
STYLES WORN BY THE EGYPTIANS,
ROMANS AND HEBREWS.

ROMANS AND HEBREWS.
Rings Are Regarded Differently Now
Than Formeriy-worn Not So Much for
Ornament as for Their Intrinsic Value.
Some Famous Rings in History.
Looking at the exhibition of modern
finger rings, the old timer is forcibly
struck by the fact that, whereas IN the
good old DAYS the decorative art and de-
sign were almost wholly expended on
the gold band itself, modern jewelers.
confined themselves almost exclusively
to combinations of valuable stones. 1t
is a very ungrateful task to spoil TO-
nance, but cold truth compels the ad-
mission that this is a practical age, which
looks largely TO the matter of converu-
bility in rings, watches and valuable
presents.
Actors and actresses on their travels
are seldom seen without diamond pin,
brooch, necklace or solitaire ring. be-
cause these articles represent condensa-
ton of money in small bulk and unde-
probable form. The finest workman
ship on the gold itself goes for nothing.
1t is simply ''old gold"-soid by weight.
1t was very different in ''the days of
DID," though there were plenty of pre-
cious stones available if they had been
needed The Pharaohs and their states
men, the Processes of Egypt and their IA
vored attendants, undoubtedly wore
rings, for quite number of muInmies
have been found with a dozen finger
rings literally distributed ON the eight
fingers, besides the indispensable thumb
rings. For it is singular fact that for
hundreds of years after the Christian
era the custom still prevailed OF wearing
the wedding ring and the masculine
token of wealth and power on the thumb.
EGYPTIAN RINGS.
The ring is so frequently alluded to in
the Old Testament as to make it plain
that the greatest Importance attached to
it, even in the pastoral age. In Gen.
xii, az, it is stated that pharaoh took
off his ring from his hand and put 1t
on Joseph's hand as signal mark of
favor. In Esth. iii, 10, mention is made
of King Ahasuerus taking his ring from
his hand and giving it to Hannah, and
the context shows that certain written
documents were .'sealed with the king
ring"
The old time rings were made of all
sorts of material. Pliny mentions that
iron rings We're commonly worn by be-
trothed persons. 1t seems tolerably GER
tain that rings of gold and silver were
worn only by kings, princes and mobiles,
while less expensive circlets OF brass,
ivory, iron and porcelain or glass were
worn by the average citizen.
The oldest gold Egyptian finger ring
actually preserved belonged to ANU
noph LII, who reigned over Egypt four
teen centuries before Christ was born.
Rings of the date of Osirtasen and Thoth
mes III, who were contemporaries OF
Joseph and Moses, have been found, but
they are of common material and doubt
full authenticity. The scarabaeus, beetle
which formed the Egyptian token of i'm
mortality from being a sexuaD Is a com
mon emblem in Egyptian finger rings
and one of Poe's most extravagant tale:
of mystery, imagination and humor" ha:
a well established foundation, so far a:
the scarabaeus ring is concerned. II
seems to be tolerably certain that Egyp
tan women wore as many rings as they
could crowd on their fingers.
ANTIQUITY OF RINGS.
The Egyptians and Romans undoubt
edly preferred the left hand for ring pur
poses, while Caesar, Livy and Tacitus al
seem to insist that the Gauls and Briton;
wore their rings on the right hand. IL
any case, it seems to have been tacitly
agreed that the third finger was the plac,
of honor.
The Hebrew rings worn IN those gooc
old DAYS We're very ornate and beautiful
Quite a number of them have been pre-
served, and they put the art of the mod
ern ieweler entirely to the blush. Th'
most beautiful were the pledges of be
throthal or wedding gifts. The ceremo
MES in connection with these rings seen
10 be foreshadOwed in the redemption
process specified in Ruth Nv, :. Thu
workmanship of these Hebrew bethrotha
rings grew still more elaborate in TIT
Middle Ages, when towers and minaret
of gold were most exquisitely built nj
on the hoop. The Jewish bride OF thi
era wore the wedding ring on the frs
| finger, but in later days shifted II TO
| convenience TO the third.
| The old style ''gemmel' or "gemmon'
| ring evidently associated with the Frenc'
Juneau jumelle, uncommon, meaning
twin is not at all an object In col
! lections of antique rings
The meaning Of the indivisible links j
self evident. Usually at the marriage o
/ the parties the links were severed, eacl
party wearing one of the rings. Georg
| " gave a gemmel ring to Mrs. Fltz
| herbert. Tire toadstOne ring wasarothe
quaint medieval conception. 1t was al
| outcome Of superstition and died whel
superstition died. The idea of the toad
stone ring vas 90 prevent mothers All
snail children from the evil influences
| the fairies The smallest wedding rim
! ever fashioned was that used at the mar
rage of Mary. sthe infant daughter @
| Henry VIII Of England. 10 the Dauphl
OF France. son Of Francis /. The marTiag
| was performed by Cardinals Wolsey an
Campeggio, the bridegroom being
months old and the bride year ard
| months oid.-BostoD Globe.