File:Handbook of archaeology, Egyptian - Greek - Etruscan - Roman (1867) (14781605515).jpg

Identifier: handbookofarchae00west (find matches)
Title: Handbook of archaeology, Egyptian - Greek - Etruscan - Roman
Year: 1867 (1860s)
Authors: Westropp, Hodder M. (Hodder Michael), -1884
Subjects: Art, Ancient Archaeology
Publisher: London, Bell and Daldy
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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RINGS. 307 the weight of their rings, while to others it is quite a labour to wearmore than one at a time; some, in their solicitude for the safety oftheir gems, make the hoop of gold tinsel, and fill it with a lightermaterial than gold, thinking thereby to diminish the risk of a fall.Others, again, are in the habit of inclosing poisons beneath thestones of their rings, and so wear them as instruments of death.And then, besides, how many of the crimes that are stimulated bycupidity are committed through the instrumentality of rings ! Howhappy the times—how truly innocent—in which no seal was put toanything! At the present day, on the contrary, our very food evenand our drink have to be preserved from theft through the agencyof the ring; and so far is it from being sufficient to have the verykeys sealed, that the signet-ring is often taken from off the ownersfingers while he is overpowered with sleep, or lying on his death-bed. As an instance of one of those rings worn by some who
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made a parade of the weight of their rings, we may mention thering figured in Montfaucon. It is a thumb ring of unusual magni-tude, and of costly material. It bears the bust in high relief of theEmpress Plotina, the consort of Trajan : she is represented with theImperial diadem. It is supposed to have decorated the hand ofsome member of the Imperial family. Mr. King mentions one now x 2 308 HANDBOOK OF ARCHEOLOGY. r in the Fould collection, the weight of which, though intended forthe little finger, was three ounces. It was set with a large Orientalon)^x, not engraved. The wealthy expended enormous sums ontheir rings: the ring of the Empress Faustina cost £40,000, andof Domitia £60,000. The subjects engraved on rings were in endless variety; amongthose which are more frequently found are the Olympic divinities.Jupiter, Mercury, Bacchus, Apollo, Mars, are the more frequentlychosen for subjects. The Cupids and Neptunes, Plutos and Vul-cans are less frequent. Harpocrates, with his finge

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