【精英翻譯】的部落格

Ring It On!

一「戒」永流傳：戒指的歷史

精英翻譯社轉自https://www.ivy.com.tw/newsLetter/life_cont/2021052817311928061

There’s more to rings than meets the eye.

戒指並非表面上看起來的那樣簡單。

Throughout history, rings have been used for many different purposes, some of which will probably surprise you. Take the signet ring for example. Long ago, this type of ring was not generally used as jewelry. Instead, it was used for practical purposes. Signet rings were often decorated with a family crest on the top. They could be used to stamp or sign a legal document by leaving a mark in the sealing wax. Most of them weren’t even intended to be worn on fingers! Because of their size and weight, signet rings were often part of a bracelet or necklace instead.

縱古貫今，戒指被運用於多種不同用途，有些或許會讓你驚訝連連。就拿圖章戒指為例。很久以前，這種戒指主要並不是作為珠寶使用。它反而是被用於實質用途。圖章戒指的上頭通常會飾有家徽。藉由在封蠟中留下印記，它們能被用來蓋章或是簽核法律相關文件。它們大多數甚至不是意欲拿來戴在手指上！因為它們的大小及重量，圖章戒指反而經常是屬於手環或項鍊的一部分。

In medieval times, some people believed rings had magical powers. They would wear them for protection. Other rings were used as weapons, sometimes containing poison and a tiny needle so that they could poison a person with only a handshake! Next time you slip on a pretty ring, think of how much the purpose of rings has changed over the course of time.

中古時期有些人相信戒指有魔力。人們會戴戒指來保護自己。也有其他戒指會被當成武器，有時候它們會含有毒藥及一根細小的針頭，這樣就可以僅憑握手來毒害對方！下次你戴上一只漂亮的戒指時，不妨想想戒指的用途是如何隨著時間而演變。