The History of Engagement Rings And Bridal Sets
August 172010
Engagement rings and bridal sets have the same root. The history of symbolic rings is shrouded in mystery as it’s not clear which culture first had the idea – some suggest it could be the Ancient Greeks, or the Romans, or the Egyptians. Engagement rings, then called betrothal rings, were a symbol of the woman’s connection to her future husband – but it was a sign of ownership rather than romance or love. The Greeks are believed to have originated the idea of wearing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand as they believed it had a direct connection to the heart, and the Romans initiated the wearing of an iron ring to represent enduringness and endurance.
In the 9th century, Pope Nicolas contributed to the idea of engagement rings when he made it obligatory to give an engagement ring – this was to show that the prospective husband had the wherewithal to keep a wife. This was further endorsed in the thirteenth century by Pope Innocent III.