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Ch. 6: Gemstones in Ornaments

Ch. 5: Secular Uses of Gems Page of 401 Ch. 6: Gemstones in Ornaments Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
CHAPTER VI.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF ORNAMENTS.
Rings. — The ring is one of the oldest and one of the most
common jewels known. Its great antiquity is proved by the
statues at Elephanta, India, and by other relics of the past, as
well as by the records of the sacred writers. As a symbol,
it represents power, honor, rank, and alliance, and was the
emblem of authority among the ancients, as with the Egyptians, when Joseph was invested with the vice-royalty of the
kingdom, and with the Persians, when Ahasuerus appointed
Mordecai to supersede Haman in office, and when, by command of the King of Babylon, it was employed to sanction a
proclamation in favor of the Jews. The ring was also used by
the Israelites to make valid royal decrees, as when Jezebel, the
queen of Ahab, fraudulently employed his ring for this purpose ;
and to authenticate public documents, and legalize business
transactions between contracting parties. In these instances
it is probable the ring was mounted with an engraved stone
as a seal, since this jewel was frequently set with gems bearing inscriptions, and used for signets by the nations of
antiquity.
The ring has been very generally selected for the ceremony
of investing persons with sacerdotal prerogatives ; for betrothments, marriages, and memorials for the dead ; while as a personal ornament, there have been no limits to the numbers
worn. Seneca says of his countrymen : " Our fingers are
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Ch. 5: Secular Uses of Gems Page of 401 Ch. 6: Gemstones in Ornaments
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