ANNIJlUS (acucTuAios), a ring. It is pro-
bable that the custom of wearing rings was
very early introduced into Greece from Asia,
where it appears to have been almost uni-
versal. They were worn not merely as orna-
ments, but as articles for use, as the ring
always served as a seal. A seal was called
sphragis ia^payii)^ and hence this name was
given to the ring itself, and also to the gem
or stone for a ring in which figures were en-
graved. Rings in Greece were mostly worn
on the fourth finger (n-opoficcrof ). At Rome,
the custom of wearing rings was believed to
have been introduced by the Sabines, who
were described in the early legends as wear-
ing golden rings with precious stones of great
beauty. But, whenever introduced at Rome,
it is certain that they were at first always of
iron ; that they were destined for the same
purpose as in Greece, namely, to be used as
seals ; and that every f^ree Roman had a right
to use such a ring. This iron ring was worn
down to the last period of the republic by
such men as loved the simplicity of the good
old times. In the course of time, however,
it became customary for all the senators,
chief magistrates, and at last for the equites
also, to wear a golden seal-ring. The right
of wearing a gold ring, which was subse-
quently called the jxts annuli aureif or the
Jus annutorunif remained for sevend centu-
ries at Rome the exclusive privilege of sena-
tors, magistrates, and equites, while all other
persons continued to wear iron ones. During
the empire the right of granting the annulus
Mireus belonged to the emx>erors, and some
of them were not very scrupulous in confer-
ring this privilege. Augustus gave it to
Mena, a freedman, and to Antonius Musa,
a physician. The emperors Severus and
Aurelian conferred the right of wearing
golden rings upon all Roman soldiers ; and
Justinian at length allowed all the citizens of
the empire, whether ingenui or libertini, to
wear such rings. The ring of a Roman em-
peror was a kind of state seal, and the empe-
ror sometimes allowed the use of it to such
persons as he wished to be regarded as his
representatives. 