There’s more to rings than meets the eye. 戒指並非表面上看起來的那樣簡單。
Throughout history, rings have been used for many different purposes, some of which will probably surprise you. Take the signet ring for example. Long ago, this type of ring was not generally used as jewelry. Instead, it was used for practical purposes. Signet rings were often decorated with a family crest on the top. They could be used to stamp or sign a legal document by leaving a mark in the sealing wax. Most of them weren’t even intended to be worn on fingers! Because of their size and weight, signet rings were often part of a bracelet or necklace instead.
there is more to... than meets the eye……沒有表面看起來那麼簡單 practical [ ˈpræktɪkl̩ ] a. 實際的，實用的 a family crest [ krɛst ] 家徽，家族紋章 sealing wax [ ˈsilɪŋˌwæks ] 封蠟，火漆
In ancient Greece and Rome, people started using rings in ways that are more familiar to us. Fancy, expensive rings were worn as jewelry and as displays of status and wealth. The Western custom of wedding rings came from the Romans. However, unlike today, Roman women often had two different wedding rings. One, made of iron, was worn at home. The other, made of gold, was worn in public.
In medieval times, some people believed rings had magical powers. They would wear them for protection. Other rings were used as weapons, sometimes containing poison and a tiny needle so that they could poison a person with only a handshake! Next time you slip on a pretty ring, think of how much the purpose of rings has changed over the course of time.
