Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1917 — Origin of the Wedding Ring Of Today Has Been Traced Back to Days of Old Egypt [ARTICLE]

Origin of the Wedding Ring Of Today Has Been Traced Back to Days of Old Egypt

How many brides, as they tremulously present a coy finger for the clasp of the magic circlet, even suspect that the welcome symbol of hymeneal bliss comes down to them from Old Egypt? In the land of the sphinx and the pyramids was the cradle of emancipated womanhood, where materfamilias ruled her willing household with despotic sway—a fair and benevolent despotism but none the less tyrannical, borrowing tier smug authority from the mothergoddess Isis, the Indomitable and supreme. In ancient times the Influence of the Egyptian wife extended far beyond the domain of the family dwelling, for she was mistress of the storerooms, the granaries, and all the provisions: “Mistress of the Seals,” “Mistress of the Linens,” “Mistress of the Khetemu,” the sealed rooms. All the doors, boxes and jars of the household were elaborately sealed and under her sole supervision. This, it is said, accounts for the great number of scarab seals found by the side of females in mummy cases. In this capacity as supreme arbiter of the househqjd and its appurtenances, on the wedding day the Egyptian woman’s lord, but not her master, presented her with a little string of seals which she wore like a bunch of keys. At first the jewels were suspended from a string hung about her neck. Then she wore them on a cord or string tied around her wrlrt, and later, for greater security, they were attached to the finger by a string or.a wire- This wire Is. said to be the direct forbear of the signet ring and of the wedding ring. With the advent of locks these seals gave way to keys, and the husband ceremoniously presented his mistress with the keys of the household or estate on a ring. These becoming too cumbersome or uncomfortable, a plain metal band was given with the keys. Says Cicero: “The key was given to the bride on entering her home to signify that she was appointed mistress —materfamilias —of the house — in fact, to be used by her to lock up her storeroom, and in case of divorce was taken away." Thus the wedding ring comes—in proud perpetuity to the brides of today from the sacred shores of the drowsy Nile.