The orgin of engagement rings is somewhat unclear so I'll share a few of the most common stories with youAncient Egyptians loved their jewelry. They believed that a special love vein ran from the four... The Romans wore "betrothal" rings made of iron. Over time, these rings started to be made of gold and embellished. Some early rings also had a carved key to symbolize how a woman could unlock her lover's heart. Another theory suggests that the engagement ring served as a "slave band" in the Roman Republic to indicate that the woman was the man's chattel and belonged exclusively to him. If you're looking for some specific dudes to single out, look no further. In 860 Pope Nicolas I announced that a ring was a requirement to signify engagement and it was also stipulated that it should be a gold ring - this indicated the financial commitment being made by the groom. Some sources say the origin of engagement rings dates back to 1477 when the Archduke Maximillian of Austria bought his beloved Mary of Burgundy some serious bling. Consider yourself lucky (or unlucky) depending on your perspective. In Brazil, Sweden, and Germany, both the man and the woman wear engagement rings. And some men wish they could go back in time to the days of cavemen. The cavemen tied strands of grass around the ankle of their cavechick to claim their respective piece of meat. This was uncomfortable for the cavechick and was ultimately adjusted so that the grass strands were tied around her finger versus her ankle. Article Tags: Engagement Rings, Engagement Ring Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com