Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-24
Signet Ring of Cheops.

sington Museum London, where is, perhaps
the largest and most interesting collection
of rings in the world. Hence it was with
keen anticipation that l made pilgrim
age to the old-faShoned and half-forgotten
building of the Historical Society. Seven
ty-fve and even fifty years ago 1t was
much frequented place but few people go
there now and ninety-five per cent of the
inhabitants of New York city never heard
of the place. The museum is not even
mentioned in the standard guides to New
York city, yet 1t contains one of the rarest
and most valuable collections OF antiquities
in existence; perhaps the most valuable for
its size. and in the adjoining room is re-
markable collection of paintings which the
older generation of the people of New
York have forgotten and the present gen
GRAFTON never heard of.
DIR. Abbott was one of the earliest collect
ors of Egyptian antiquities-long before
they excited general interest-and hence he
was able to secure some of the rarest and
most wonderful of the treasures that were
found in the temples, tombs and pyramids.
In 1924 he presented his collection to the
New York Historical Society," and it has
been in that museum ever since. Among
other things are the mummies of three sa-
cred bulls taken from the tombs of the
bulls at Memphis the only ones | have
ever seen.
Oldest Ring in the World.
The gem of the collection, however-the
most precious and ancient of all the relics
of the Pharaohs-is the signet ring or seal
of the great Suphis, better known as
Cheops, the Pharaoh, who erected the great
pyramid at Gizeh for his tomb centuries be-
fore Abraham was born or Joseph was sold
by his brethren to become the prime min
lister of one of Cheops successors 1t is a
heavy, solid mass of gold with fiat top
engraved in observation-disclosures blossoms,
crocodile figures of Isis Osiris and other
gods of Egyptian mythology The seal is
n 10 a
widest part and five-eighths of an inch
across the center.
This ring was used to sign or attest all
of the DEGREES of the great Suphis King of
connected with the erection of the great
pyramid is supposed to have been sealed
with this signet. CheopS was buried in a
chamber in the center of that the largest
of human structures but his burial cham
Der was looted by the Persians under Cam
byses father of Cyrus the Great. about $50
years before Christ. The sarcophagus was
torn open, the body was thrown out and
stripped of the jewels and other ornaments
with which 1t was adorned. This ring, how
ever seems to have dropped from his finger
unnoticed. for early in the last century 1t
was found in the debris of the burial cham
Der by Colonel Vyse, from whom 1t was
purchased by DIR. Abbott
A Most Interesting Ring.
The next most interesting and valuable
collection of the Earl of Ashburnham at
his palace, Hyde Park, London. 1t is a
rectangular block of gold, revolving on
swivels at the ends of thick hoop of
gold, and is engraved on both sides with
hieroglyphics On one side is the car
touche of Thothmes III, the Pharaoh who
was the friend of Joseph On the other side
the hieroglyphics have been translated to
read: "Revealer of Secrets; Preserver of
the World; Protector of Egypt" which are
the titles given to Joseph.
This ring discovered in 1894 in the
ecropoliS of Sakkare, near the ruins of the
ancient city of Memphis. on the banks of
the Nile, and many antiquarians believe
that 1t is the actual ring referred to in
Genesis Xli:42-43:
hand and put it upon Josephs hand. and
arrayed him in vestures of fine linen. and
put gold chain about his neck; and he
made him to ride in the second chariot
which he had; and they cried before him
Bow the knee; and he made him ruler over
all the land of Egypt
Martin Luther's Wedding Ring.
In 1929 Martin Luther's wedding ring
was discovered in second-h hand shop in
Geneva by Madame Michael Girod. and
is now at Waldenberg. 1t is made of sill
Yer gilt and is believed to have been de-
signed by the celebrated painter and gold
smith. Lucas Cranach, and probahIv
wrought with his own hands, for he was
one of the three men selected by Luther
witnesses of his marriage The de-
sign is quite complicated and includes the
several symbols of the Passion In the
center is figure of the crucified Savior:
side is the spear with which His
side was pierced, and on the other side
the ladder used at the crucifiXion. The
pillar to which He Was bound is Iooped
with the lash with which He was
scourged There is leaf of hyssop the
dice with which the soldiers cast lots for
His garments; three nails, a crown of
thorns and other symbols connected with
the last act of the atonement so grouped