From ancient times to the present day, finger rings have played a fascinating and often mysterious role in human culture. This book delves into the history and symbolism of finger rings, examining their use as tokens of love, symbols of power, and expressions of religious devotion. Richly illustrated and full of intriguing stories, it is a must-read for anyone interested in the meaning behind human adornment. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In The Ring of Truth, Wendy Doniger expertly unfolds the cultural and historical significance of rings and other kinds of circular jewelry through timeless stories taken from mythology, religious traditions, and literature. Each chapter, like a separate charm on a charm bracelet, considers a different constellation of stories, linked by a common cluster of meanings: the mutual imitation of real and fake, legal and illegal, marital and extra-marital jewelry; the circular form of rings and bracelets, miming the circle of eternity, which persists in the face of human ephemera

Professional secrets of jewelry making are revealed in a thorough, practical guide. Over 200 illustrations.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.