elements,
each of which has a distinct bearing upon the history, the fortunes, or
the taste of the prospective wearer. At the head of the ring is set his
birth-stone, the sard, about which are engraved his family crest and
motto, and the initials of his name. On the shank are two relief
representations, one of a lion, " the king of beasts," typifying royal
descent, the other showing the wearer's patron saint, Michael ; at the
left of this figure is set an emerald as the talismanie gem.
Surmounting the head of the ring are a series of light gothic arches,
indicating the religious character of this jewel. On the smooth inner
side of the head is engraved a mystic design, consisting of a double
triangle, interlaced to form a six-pointed star, and enclosed by a
circle ; within the triangles appears in blue emerald the " mystic
number " 15, that of the wearer, blue being his astral color; the
triangles symbolize the inseparability of the Holy Trinity, and the
circle typifies Eternity, this word being engraved above, as well as
the date of the wearer's birth, and a legend commemorating the gift of
the ring. It is made of fine gold, so that it may the better denote
absolute purity.
In
one type of serpent ring, one of the ends is inserted loose into the
mouth of the serpent's head terminating the other end, so that by a
little careful bending, the trifling difference in the diameter of the
hoop necessary to adjust it perfectly to a finger can be easily
attained. This form already appears among ancient rings.36
Two finely wrought serpent rings are shown on
36
Frederick William Fairholt, " Rambles of an Artist," London, n. d., p.
77, fig. 88. A later edition of this book, dated 1871, bears the title,
" Rambles of an Archaeologist."
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