The seal ring Is a Pure Egyptian Invention

“The ring with a surface engraved with the inscription, which was used as a 'seal', is a purely Egyptian invention,” according to British Egyptologist Cyril Aldred in his book "Jewelry of the Pharaoh."

The ancient Egyptian jewelry includes a set of engraved rings, including a gold ring displayed at the Louvre Museum, France, engraved with the name of the Emperor "Tuthmosis III", on which is written, "From beloved, Ptah, a beautiful face."

The stages of development in the design of the "ring" during the ancient Egyptian era confirm attempts to achieve ease of use and to combine multiple functions such as aesthetic and functional, as the ancient Egyptians were able to create and develop pieces of "ring" jewelry, to perform the sealing function, and over time he added the decorative function to it.

These attempts witnessed the use of the scarab as a seal in the era of the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt, by piercing it, polishing it, engraving the names of kings and princes on it, and providing it with a thread to hang on the neck.

The ring seal carried multiple aesthetic and usage values, then the wearing position was changed from the neck to the fingers of the hand, and the scarab was tied to a thread around the finger.

The idea of the ring seal was further developed during the era of the Middle Kingdom, so the thread was replaced by the wire, as it was more tightly held by the finger of the hand.

During the period of the Second Decline in ancient Egypt, modifications were made to its design. The thickness of the wire increased and became a small ring that was wrapped around the finger of the hand.

In the era of the New Kingdom, the ring was made and separated into one piece of gold or silver, engraved with the names of kings and princes, to perform its aesthetic and functional function.

These developments carry indications, showing the attempts of the ancient Egyptians to reach the best functional performance for cutting jewelry, in order to achieve comfort, safety, and ease of use.

Translated by Ahmed Moamar