The History of Rings
By William Chalfant
THE SYMBOLISM OF RINGS
When we think of the symbolism of rings, it is possible to allow our minds to run amok. Rings are noted everywhere in nature. The idea of a circle gives out notions of eternity, with no beginning and no ending.
Tyack speaks of rings made in “the form of the familiar symbol of eternity, the coiled snake...”.1 The snake also represents the wicked serpent in the Garden of Eden. Thus a ring is made, in this instance, to represent a serpent that wraps itself around mankind.
Granted that such a representation is rather far-fetched, there is, however, evidence that in primitive times it was believed by some that a rope tied around part of the body would keep the soul from escaping from the body.
Berdanier says that when a man captured his mate in primitive times, he tied ropes around her waist, her wrists, and ankles, in order to “make sure that her spirit was held under his control”.2
Later, a permanent ring of flint, ivory, or amber, took the place of the rope “to symbolize obedience of the wearer to a higher power”.3 The ring, then-in this respect-was quite simply a symbol of ownership or slavery.
Actually, the symbolism of the ring is more widespread than that. It is not only a symbol of slavery in this instance, but it later became a status symbol of authority, wealth, and position-especially in the ancient Roman world. This idea of the ring as a status symbol is derived from the ring’s cosmetic qualities, which is seen in its “value” to some as an adornment of the body.
The ancients had at least three uses for rings: (1) to distinguish status or conditions of quality; (2) betrothal or engagement rings, and (3) rings used as seals in business or other personal transactions.4
It seems that the use of a ring as a seal was the earliest employment of rings in the civilized world. In this use of the ring, it was associated with the transfer of goods or property.
THE ORIGIN OF THE RING
Most sources consulted by this writer are agreed that the ring originated in the Middle-east, but they are not always in agreement in which area or country.
Brasch, for example, says, “The ring originated in the East, whence it was copied by the ancient Greeks”.5 Others believe that the earliest rings were to be found in Egypt.
But Rees tells us, “The ancient Chaldeans, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks, had likewise the use of the ring”. He takes his information from the ancient writer, Quintus Curtius.
It is our opinion, then, that just as the ancient pantheon of the “gods” of Egypt are descended from the pantheon of Babylon, then likewise the ring itself must be descended from Babylon.
The earliest use of the ring in the civilized world seems to have been in making impressions or imprints upon wax or clay. This ring, then, was used to designate ownership. It was normally too large to be worn upon the finger, and was sometimes a part of a bracelet or necklace, or just attached to the waist by a thong or a cord.7
By the sixteenth century BC finger rings were noted among the ancient Egyptians, which leads some to believe that this was about the time when the finger ring evolved from the signet ring, which was used as a seal.8
This means that the finger ring, at this time, became “ornamental” rather than useful as a seal or signet.
The first biblical reference to a ring is in
Genesis 41.42, where an Egyptian pharaoh (probably Apepi II), in about 1800 BC, gave his signet ring to Joseph.9 Obviously, this ring was not for the purpose of adornment, but was given to Joseph for business or government transactions.
We are not told whether Joseph actually continued to wear this ring constantly upon his “hand” (we are not actually told that the ring was put on Joseph’s “finger”, but rather it was placed upon his “hand”, which would be the case if it was a large signet ring). Signet rings, by their very use, would be deemed too large to wear ornamentally upon the finger. Most rings today throughout the Islamic world in the Middle east are the signet rings (the khatim, “seals”).10
The Persians (Iranians) said that Guiamschild, who was “the fourth king of the first race...introduced the ring for sealing his letters and other acts”.11
The Persians had conquered Babylon, and therefore may have gotten the ring from Babylon.
Others ascribe the ring to the Phoenicians. But the Phoenicians were sea traders, and were most likely responsible for merely spreading the use of rings throughout the Mediterranean.
The ring probably went from the Babylonians and Persians to the Greeks. From the Greeks it went to the Etruscans in Italy, and then finally to the Romans, from whom we in the West have gotten our basic custom of wedding rings.
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