thegetty: “In the Byzantine Empire, as today, rings exchanged during the marriage rite witness
thegetty:“In the Byzantine Empire, as today, rings exchanged during the marriage rite witnessed a couple’s legitimate union. Three rings were associated with this rite of passage: one ring for engagement and two for marriage. The bezels were decorated with images and words of symbolic importance or inscribed with the names of the couple. In Greek Orthodox custom, following the Byzantine tradition, the ring is worn on the right, or “correct” hand, related to the acceptability of the marriage through an ancient rite of the clasping of the right hands.”—Put a Ring On ItEngagement Ring with a Greek Inscription, about A.D. 1175–1300. Gold and enamel, 1 3/16 in. diam. Image courtesy of the National Archaeological Museum, Athens -- source link
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