Rings are a staple jewelry item for a multitude of reasons. People wear rings as an emblem of marriage, in order to make a fashion statement, or to boast their social status. For most people, wearing a ring is purposeful in some way or another. So what was the reason someone might have chosen to wear the ring in our collection? In analyzing the material, shape, and size of the ring, it is possible to make an educated guess.
Firstly, the ring is made of bronze. Bronze was one of the cheapest metals available in ancient Rome, such that casting rings out of bronze was an effective way for the poorer classes to keep up with the cultural trends (Marshall 1907, xxxiv). This particular ring may then have belonged to a member of the plebeian, poor, class because it was a more affordable option. Members of the senate or those traveling on business for the republic preferred to wear rings made of gold, which was prominent during the early republic (Kunz 1917, 11).
(Image of DePauw Classics’ 998.01.12, Justin Benes, 2024)
Secondly, the ring is about 18-19 mm in diameter. The average ring diameter for a male hand ranges between 18.8 to 19.4 mm and 16.8 to 17.5 mm for females (Kiernan 2023, 79). The evidence points to the fact that this ring was made for men; more specifically, a male plebeian who wore the ring simply for looks or social conformity.
Rings were especially important to citizens in the patrician class because they served distinct functions. One of its main functions was to serve as a signet, marking items with a distinct seal (Marshall 1907, xv). Additionally, rings could show off the wealth of the elite. Pliny the Elder states, “This fashion like everything else luxury has diversified in numerous ways, by adding to rings gems of exquisite brilliance, and by loading the fingers with a wealthy revenue and then by engraving on them a variety of devices, so that in one case the craftsmanship and in another the material constitutes the value.” (Plin. Nat. 33.6, 22).
However, by looking at the bronze ring, in the display case, it doesn’t seem as if this ring would be used for either of those two functions. Primarily, the ring is simple, made of bronze, and doesn’t have a seal. For the most part, the ring is dull and doesn’t have much character. However, this ring would still be very important to someone of the plebeian class. Bronze rings were cheap ways for plebeians to show affection to their partners or provide as gifts to those they loved. (Kiernan 2023, 87). Another possible function of the bronze ring is that it was a symbol of a plebeian trying to take part in Roman culture (Kiernan 2023, 89). Pliny states, “Not even at that period did all members of the senate possess gold rings, seeing that in the memory of our grandfathers many men who had even held the office of praetor wore an iron ring to the end of their lives”(Plin. Nat. 33.6,21). Simple rings were initially an important part of Roman culture for officials as well as the regular citizens. Eventually, elegant rings became too expensive for the commoner and bronze rings were an easy way to show their love for Rome.
(Image of DePauw Classics’ 998.01.12, Justin Benes, 2024)
I argue that a male plebeian would have worn this ring to potentially signify his love for a partner or was a gift he received. Pliny mentions that simple iron rings were home life fashion for Romans; “this is the reason why even now an iron ring and what is more a ring without any stone in it is sent as a gift to a woman when betrothed”(Plin. Nat. 33.4,12) As a band of marriage, the bronze ring would have been a sleek image of a partners’ love. Another possibility was that he was trying to look the part of a typical Roman citizen and wear the ring to signify Roman fashion. Juvenal mentions Roman officials such as “with that of Canopus Crispinus tearing Tyrias back with his shoulder let the gold be fanned by the sweaty fingers of summer, nor suffer the greater weight of the jewel”(Juv.1.28). Wearing rings was a fashionable way for the rich to show off their wealth. Without money, cheap iron and bronze rings were ways in which the poor tried to make fashion statements.
Sources:
Juvenal. Satires 1. Michael Hendry. 2005. Iuvenali Satira 1. https://www.curculio.org/Juvenal/s01.html
Kiernan, Phillip, and Klaus-Peter Henz. 2023 “Henz. “Rings from the Forbidden Forest: The Function and Meaning of Roman Trinket Rings.” Journal of Roman Archaeology 36, no. 1: 73–95. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1047759423000211.
Kunz, George Frederick. 1973. Rings for the finger; from the earliest known times to the present, with full descriptions of the origin, early making, materials, the archaeology, history, for affection, for love, for engagement, for wedding, commemorative, mourning, etc. New York: Dover Publications
Marshall, F. H. 1907. Catalogue of the finger rings: Greek, Etruscan and Roman in the Department of Antiquities, British Museum. London
Pliny the Elder. The Natural History. ed. John Bostock and H. T. Riley, in the Perseus Digital Library. 1855. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/textdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D33%3Achapter%3D1
DePauw University Classics World 