Rings
Throughout history rings have been used for countless purposes and held a massive variety of cultural meanings. From the Super bowl, 1930’s Lone Ranger rings distributed in Cereal boxes to the beautiful Ancient Egyptian and Greek rings which were believed to hold mystical powers, rings are have been and continue to be used by just about every culture on Earth. The very first rings were simple metal bands constructed from metals, bone or twine. Sometime during the 14th Century precious gemstones were added to create beautiful rings which held the power associated with the gemstone.
The Ring Finger
Counting from the thumb the ring finger is traditionally the forth finger on the left hand. The tradition of wearing rings on this finger stems from the Ancient Roman belief that this finger contains the ‘Vena Amoris’ the vein which connects directly to the heart. Today the ring finger can be on either the left or right hand depending upon both religious belief and the cultural norm of the country.
A ring made from your bones
A couple in the UK recently commissioned a group of scientist to construct a pair of very unique wedding rings. A small slice of bone from each of their jaws was gathered to collect bone cells. The bone cells were then grown in a lab to form the shape of rings. The couple will soon be able to present each other with wedding rings made from each other’s bones.
Rings for power and protection
Numerous cultures have throughout time believed that rings bestow certain powers upon the wearer. The Egyptians created the Kali ring and believed it would draw power from each planet bringing the wearer good fortune and piece. The Celts created rings for powerful warriors as a sign of authority and power. Romans created rings to signify a military alliance, wealth and social status. Today many Eastern cultures continue to wear rings for their symbolism while new trends like promise rings continue to thrive in Western Culture.