Seals were applied by the use of signet rings of gold, silver, or bronze with the impression of the seal cut in the metal or on a gem set in the bezel (see p. [136]). The engraved ring was usually employed for purely personal purposes, such as the sealing of a letter or document, and the device of the seal was more or less ornamental. For the somewhat allied group of bronze tablets, used for marking objects, rather than securing them, see p. [192].
(441) On ancient locks, see Diels, Parmenides, p. 117 ff.; Fink, Der Verschluss bei den Griechen u. Römern; Daremberg and Saglio, s.v. Sera; (453) Cf. Num. Chron., 1897, p. 293 ff.; (454) Cf. Annali dell' Inst., 1864, p. 343 ff., and Mon. dell' Inst., VIII., pl. xi.
[44:] 616 C, D.
[45:] Mon. d. Inst., ix. pl. 42.
[46:] Διογένης ἠπητὴς μὲν ὢν ὅτε ἔζη . . .
[47:] xxi. 46 ff.;
αὐτίκ' ἄρ' ἥ γ' ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης,
ἐν δὲ κληῖδ' ἧκε, θυρέων δ' ἀνέκοπτεν ὀχῆας,
ἄντα τιτυσκομένη.
[48:] After Jacobi, Das Römerkastell Saalburg, p. 469, fig. 74, 1, 2 (modified).