Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-04-11
RINGS OF THE ANCIENTS.
STYLES WORN BY THE EGYPTIANS,
ROMANS AND HEBREWS.

Rings Arc Regarded DiTerentiy New l
Than Formcriy--wo 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 foScibly /
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 jewellers /
confined themselves almost exclusively
TO combinations of valuable stones. 1t
is q very ungrateful task 10 spoil ro-
nance. but cold truth compels the ad-
mission that this is a practical age. which
looks larg~' " to the matter Of converti-
bility in rings, watches and valuable
presents.
Actors and actresses on their travels
are seldom seen without olau ,ond pin.
brooch, necklace or solitaire ring, be
cause these articles represent u condensa-
ton of money in small bulk and unde
preciable form. The finest workman
ship ON the gold itself goes for nothing.
l. is simply sold gold'-sold by weight.
1t was very different in ''the days OF
old" though there were plenty of pre-
cious stones available if they had been
needed. The Pharaohc and their states
men, the princesses of Egypt and their IA
vored attendants, undoubtedly wore
rings, for quite a number of mummieS
have been found with a dozen finger
rings literally distributed on the eight
fingers, besides the Indispensable thumb
rings. For it is "A 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, 40, it is stated that Pharaoh took
off his ring from his hand and put it
on Joseph's hand" as q signal mark Of
favor. In Esth. iii, 10. mention is made
of King Ahasuerus taking his ring from
his hand and giving it to Haman, and
the context shows that certain written
documents were ''sealed with the kings
ring"
sorts of material PEny mentions that
iron rings were 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 Ill, who were contemporaries OF
Joseph and Moses, have been found, but
they are of common material and doubt
full authenticity. The scarabaeus, a beetle
which formed the Egyptian token of i'm.
mortality from being sexuaD is com
mon emblem in Egyptian finger rings
and one of Poe's most extravagant "taleS
of mystery, imagination and humor" ha:
a well established foundation, so far a.
the scarabaeus ring is concerned. II
seems to be rolerably certain that Egyp
tian 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 Britoni
wore their rings ON the right hand. II
any case, it seems to have been tacitll
agreed that the third finger was the plac'
of honor.
The Hebrew rings worn in those gooS
old days were very ornate and beautiful
Quite a number of them have been pre-
served, and they put the art Of the mod
ern jeweler entirely to the blush. Tn
most beautiful were the pledges of be
throthal or wedding gifts The ceremo
mics in connection with these rings seen
to be foreshadowed in the redemption
process specified in Ruth iv, Z. TIL
workmanship of these Hebrew bethrotha
rings grew still more elaborate in th
Middle Ages, when towers and minaret
of gold were most cxquisitely built u
on the hoop. The Jewish bride of thi
era wore the wedding ring on the frs
finger, but in later days shifted It TO
convenience to the third.
The old style "gemmel" or common
ring evidently associated with the Frenc
Juneau jumelle, uncommon, meanin
''twin") is not at all an object in CO.
lections of antique rings.
The meaning Of the indivisible links |
self evident. Usually at tho marriage 0
the parties the links were severed, eac
party wearing one of the rings. Georg
" gave gemmel ring to Mrs. Fit
herbert. The tombstone ring was anothe
quaint medieval conception. 1t was a
outcome of superstition and died whe
superstition died. The idea OF the toat
stone ring was to prevent mothers an
ANAL children from the evil influences @
the fairies. The smallest wedding rim
ever fashioned was that used at the ma
ridge Of Mary, the infant daughter {
Henry VIII of England. to the Dauphi
OF France, son of Francis /. The marriaa
was performed by Cardinals Wolsey an
Campeggio, the bridegroom being
rnnnths old and alla bride wear and