Wedding ring history

What do we know of the history of the wedding ring? For starts, that it isn't clear cut. Nor is the origin of the "finger ring" certain. However, it is speculated that wedding rings originated in ancient Egypt as the signet or seal evolved into a signet ring, a portable seal and display of authority. Later history shows that wealthy Egyptian women wore ornamental finger rings including the famous scarab design. Rings grew more common and complex during the middle kingdom. Over time Egyptian styles were supplanted by Greek and Roman rings during the Ptolemaic dynasty. But as for wedding rings themselves, let's take a brief journey on the history of wearing rings and what they meant to uncover where the tradition of wearing wedding rings started.

Byzantine Signet Ring

Origins of the ring finger concept

In looking at the history of wedding rings, let's start with the ring finger. Which finger is a wedding ring worn on and why? In the ancient writings of Pliny the Elder (23/4-79 CE) he said:

"It was the custom at first to wear rings on a single finger only – the one next to the little finger, and this we see to be the case in the statues of Numa and Servius Tullius. Later it became usual to put rings on the finger next to the thumb, even with statues of the gods; and more recently still it has been the fashion to wear them upon the little finger too. Among the Gauls and Britons the middle finger – it is said – is used for the purpose. At the present day, however, with us, this is the only finger that is excepted, for all the others are loaded with rings, smaller rings even being separately adapted for the smaller joints of the fingers."

In Rome, laws were passed to govern the wearing of finger rings. Pliny goes on to say that the Emperor Tiberius required that people who were not of free descent be required to own a large amount of property before they could have the right to wear gold finger rings. Later the Emperor Severus gave soldiers the right to wear gold rings, and then extended the right to all free citizens. Silver rings were worn by freed slaves, and in Imperial Rome, gold, silver, and iron finger rings were worn in accordance with social class.

When betrothal rings came into use, they were originally placed on the fourth finger because the ancient Greeks believed a vein in that finger led directly to the heart – the "vena amoris." Today we call this finger the ring finger.

Betrothal ring

Along with rings tying a person to their social class, the Romans were also the first to wear rings that tied them to their spouse. However, unlike today, the ring was not slipped onto the ring finger at the wedding ceremony. Instead, it happened at something more like an engagement ceremony called a Sponsalia. At this time, the groom slipped the iron ring (annulus pronubis) on the bride's finger as a pledge of fidelity and served more as a betrothal ring.

With the ring in place, the bride would say, "Nubo," meaning "I veil myself," which signified she was promised to a man. The ring was also a symbol to the bride's family of his commitment and his ability to support his bride financially.

Some suggest that the binding aspect of the ring for betrothal ceremonies came about from an older superstitious practice in which the man bound the woman he loved with cords around her waist, wrists, and ankles to be sure her spirit would be held under his control. This pagan superstition did not deter early Christians from adopting the use of the betrothal ring, though some Christians today question whether or not a Christian should wear a wedding ring for that reason and others.

For instance, in the book Christian Dress and Adornment by Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., he suggests that even a plain wedding band could "fall in the category of the inappropriate ornaments of gold and pearls mentioned by Paul and Peter" (1 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 3:3), and for these reasons question whether or not a Christian should wear a wedding (or any) ring.

Ancient Roman Wedding Ring

When did people start to wear wedding rings

The tradition of metal wedding bands also started in ancient Rome with brides being presented with two rings -- an iron ring to be worn around the house and a gold ring which was worn out in public. The tradition of men wearing wedding rings didn't really start until the World Wars when men wore them as a reminder of their wives back home.

 

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