The History Of Engagement Rings
Traditionally, engagement rings are given by a man to his fiancée as he proposes marriage. The rings symbolise the upcoming union between the two people. Rings that symbolise this go back a long way – as the circle is a symbol of eternity.
In ancient times, Egyptians would twist plants into small circles to wear around the finger. For those who were wealthy, ivory or leather would be used instead. Placed on the fourth finger of the left hand, the ring was seen to be connected to the heart by the vena amoris.
Today, engagement rings are most often given as part of a surprise proposal of marriage – whether that’s between a man and a woman or a same-sex couple. This infographic and the accompanying words below chart the history of these pre-marital gifts from ancient times to the modern day so you can learn all about the history of engagement rings
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