Modern Art Ring: The wedding ring of the Romans was a signet ring and conveyed the meaning that it was the wife's right to seal up the property of the household; it sometimes had a small key attached. It was placed on the fourth finger in early Roman days; the index finger was regarded by the J ews as the hallowed finger and bore the marriage ring; in the days of Queen Elizabeth I of England the ring, after betrothal, was worn on the thumb. The betrothal ring in Britain became the wedding ring about the time of the Reformation.
Other extant rings of historic interest are: the Shakespeare ring (see Fig. 12), supposed to have been given by Anne Hathaway to the poet, which was found in a field at Stratford-on-Avon; the ring said to have been given to Henry Darnley, her husband, by Mary, Queen of Scots (see Fig. 13) ; and the wedding ring (see Fig. 14) which Mmodern art ringin Luther gave to Katharina von Bora when he married her-it is what is known as a Passion ring, carrying the symbols of the Passion. Westminster Abbey, London, has the Essex ring given to the earl by Queen Elizabeth I.
Ecclesiastical Rings.-Closely allied to the wedding ring is the ecclesiastical ring, ceremonially wedding the wearer to the church as well as signifying the dignity of the office. Most important of these insignia jewels is the papal ring, called the Fisherman's Ring (anulus piscatoris), with its gem stone containing an engraving (used by the pope for his seal) of St. Peter in a Boat pulling up a fishing net and with the pope's above. Each pope receives a new ring froi cardinal-chamberlain, to be broken on the ] death. The stone in a cardinal's ring is no1 scribed, but usually is a sapphire.
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