The
Book of Esther, however, of later date than Daniel, makes definite
mention of the signet ring of the Persian monarch called Ahasuerus
(Artaxerxes) in the Biblical text, and while the recital can scarcely
be accepted as historical in any sense, the details of custom and
adornment are probably quite trustworthy. On investing Haman with a
great authority, Ahasuerus " took his ring from his hand and gave it
unto Haman," whereupon the latter summoned the king's scribes and had
them write letters to the provincial governors—instructing the latter
to kill all the Jews in the kingdom on the thirteenth day of the month
Adar; each oi these letters was " sealed with the king's ring." Before
this dire disaster could be consummated, the royal favor was gently
swayed in an opposite direction by the grace and charm of Esther, the
Hebrew favorite of the sovereign, and the wicked Haman was hanged on
the tall gallows he had set up for Mordecai, Esther's guardian, on whom
the ring stript from Haman's hand was bestowed. In spite of the
somewhat confused recital, one point is always strongly brought out,
that the impression of the royal signet imparted to letters or
documents the quality of royal ordinances.
In Persia the power and authority attributed to the ring of the sovereign is noted by the Persian poet Unsuri (fl. 1000 a.D. ),
and in the legends of that land the famous though fabulous hero-king,
Jemshid, is said to have had a magic ring of wondrous power. Among the
Persians, as in many other Oriental countries, the signet-ring was long
considered to be a symbol of authority.1
1
Communicated by Prof. A. V. Williams Jackson, of Columbia University,
who cites G. B. Browne's " Literary History of Persia" (London and New
York, 1906), vol. ii, p. 123, note 3, and Louisa Stuart Costello, "
Rose Garden of Persia," London, 1887, p. 33.
