MAGIC AND TALISMANIC RINGS
F
ROM their
close contact with the person as well as from their symbolic form, the
significance of many designs engraved upon them, and the supposed
virtues of stones set in them, some rings have enjoyed the repute of
possessing magic powers, both in ancient and mediaeval times, and even
much later. In a number of cases, we can find some clue to the
attribution of a special virtue to a magic ring; in other cases,
however, the circumstances leading to this are no longer to be
ascertained, and we must content ourselves with the fact that such and
such a ring, or type of rings, has been thought to have such and such a
mysterious influence.
No
ancient talisman enjoyed a greater repute in mediaeval legend than the
"Ring of Solomon" or "Solomon's Seal" as it was often called. An Arab
legend tells that by means of the power inherent in his ring, the
Hebrew King was able to succeed in all his undertakings. However, for
the space of forty years he was deprived of its aid, as he once
thoughtlessly took it off his hand when he was in the bath and it was
carried away by a malevolent genius. At the end of the forty years it
was found again in the body of a fish served on the monarch's table. In
Rabbinical legend this ring is said to have been set with a marvellous
precious stone, perhaps a diamond, which served as a magic mirror
wherein Solomon was able to see reflected the image of any
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