bignct-riug of Cheops, with enlarged view of the engraved face,
smeared with a black pigment, which leaves the figure of the body of the seal upon the paper, in which the characters appear blank or white. The characters re- quired are often too large or tuo many to be convenient- ly used in a signet-ring, in which case they are en- graved on a seal shaped not unlike those in use among ourselves, which is carried in the bosom, or suspended from the neck over the breast. This custom was an- cient, and, no doubt, existed among the Hebrews ((ien. xxxviii, 18; Cant, viii, 6, Hag. ii, 23). These seals are often entirely of metal (brass, silver, or gold), but some- times of stone set in metal. As an appendage thus shaped might be inconvenient from the pressure of its edges, the engraved stone was sometimes made to turn in its metal frame, like our swivel seals, so as to present a flat surface to the body. (See below.)
If a door or box was to be sealed, it was first fastened with some ligament, over which was placed some well- compacted clay to receive the impression of the seal. Clay was used because it hardens in the heat which would dissolve wax , and this is the reason that wax is not used in the East. A person leaving property in the custody of strangers — say in one of the cells of a cara- vansarai — seals the door to prevent the place from being entered without legal proof of tlie fact. The simplicity of the Eastern locks, and the ease with which they might be i)icked, render this precaution the more nec- essary. Sometimes a coarsely engraved and large wooden seal is employed for this purpose. There are distinct allusions to this custom in Job xxxviii, 14 ; Cant, iv, 12.
Signet-rings were very common, especially among persons of rank. They were sometimes wholly of metal, but often the inscription was borne by a stone set in sil- ver or gold. As impression from the signet-ring of a monarch gave the force of a ro\-al decree to any in- strument to which it was affixed, so the delivery or transfer of it to any one gave the power of using the royal name, and created the highest office in the State ((ien. xH, 42; Esth. iii, 10, 12; viii, 2; Jer. xxii, 24; Dan. vi, 10, 13, 17; comp. 1 Kings xxi, 8). Rings, being so much employed as seals, were called m"3I3, tahbaoth, which is derived from a root signifying to imprint, and also to seal. They were commonly worn as ornainents on the fingers — usually on the little finger of the right hand (Exod. xxxv, 22 ; Luke xv, 22 ; James ii, 2). Such rings were anciently made of silver, gold, or bronze ; sometimes the hoop was of iron, and the signet ])art of gold. Rings were early set with gems or other stones; and when designed for seals or signets, the gems were engraved (Exod. xxviii, 11,21). In the British Museum there are several rings, ear-rings, nose-rings, pendants, signets, beads, necklaces, bracelets, and other ornaments, from the tombs of Egypt. They are of gold, silver, bronze, iron, elcctrum, cornelian, jasper, porcelain, ivory, glass, emerald, etc. Some of the signets are set with amulets or scarakei, and bear the pnvnomcn of Thotmes III. There are finger- rings, .some in open work, with fig- ures of deities, etc; and on the faces of some the pra^nomen of Ameno])his III; on others, the names of Amentnonk, Amoun- ra, etc. Among tlic I'^gyptian antiiiuitics in tli(' p<isscssi(in of Dr. Alibot, English resident physician at Cairo, is the well- authenticated signet -ring of Cheo])s. It is, perhaps, the oldest article of the kind in the world, and is of fine gold, weiiiliing nearly three sover- eigns, and bearing the name of Shufu, the Suphis of IMane- fho, and the Cheops of the Greeks. This precious relic
SIGNIFICAT
1S1
SIKES
of the age of the founder of the Great PjTamid is in the highest state of preservation. Tlie style of the hieroglyphics is in perfect accordance with tliose in the tombs about the Great Pyramid, and all the details are minutely attended to and beautifully executed. It was foiuid in a tomb near the jiyramids of el-Gizeh. One of the largest signets seen by Wilkinson contained twenty pounds' worth of gold. It consisted of a mas- sive ring, half an inch in its largest diameter, bear- ing an oblong plinth, on which the devices were en- graved, one inch long, six tenths in its greatest, and four tenths in its smallest breadth. On one face was the name of king Horus, of the eighteenth dynasty; on the second a lion, with the legend " Lord of strength," refer- ring to t lie monarch ; on t he third side a scorpion ; and on the fourth a crocodile (Anc. Egypt, ii, 337;. See Seal.
Sisrnet-ring of Horus. ('2 is the enth-e ring, with its swiv- el; 1 i>i the fiice-side, with signature of Horus; 3 and 4 are the other sides.)
Significat was a brief name for the writ De Ex- communicdlo Capiendo from the word at the beginning of the writ — "Significat nobis venerabilis Pater, H. L. Episcopus," etc. See Hook, Church Diet. s. v.