PERISCELIDES. This is a Greek Word, and signifies an Ornament which Women used to put about their Legs. It is mentioned in Isaiah iii. 20. and in Numbers xxxi. 50. Moses says, That the Israelites, when they had defeated the Midianites, offered to the Lord the Garters, (Periscelides) the Rings, Bracelets, and Collars that they had taken from the Enemy. This shews the Custom of those People, and the Ornaments which even Men brought with them to the War. We see the same thing in the Victory which many Years after, Gideon obtained over the same People. The Hebrew Word, which here is Judg. viii. 25, 26, 27. אצערה Azada 70. χλιδῶνα. 2 Sam. i. 10.translated by Periscelides, comes from a Root, which signifies to walk; which favours the Translation of those that understand it of costly Garters, or Ornaments which the Midianites wore about their Legs. The Septuagint translate it by a Bracelet; it is certain it has this Signification in the Second Book of Samuel, where the Amalekite that had slain Saul, says, That he took off the Bracelet (Azadah) from the Arm of that Prince.
Isaiah makes use of the same Term in the Enumeration that he makes of the Ornaments of Women. The Chaldee translates it by the Chains of the Foot. Clemens Alexandrinus1 calls those silver or golden Circlets that Women put about their Legs, Fetters or Bonds. Profane Authors call them in the same manner, shining Fetters, golden Shackles.
Martial, A pedibus niveis fulserunt aurea vincta.
And Seneca, Crura distincta religavit auro.
The Women of Syria and Arabia at this Day wear great Rings at their Legs, at which are fastned a great Number of other lesser Rings, which make a Noise like little Bells, whenever they walk or2 stir.3 These Rings are fixed above the Ancle, and are made either of Gold, Silver, Copper, Glass, or even of varnish’d Earth, according to the Substance and Condition of the Person that wears them.
The Princesses of Arabia wear large hollow Rings of Gold, within which are inclosed little Pebbles, that sound like Bells. Others have lesser Rings called Kelkal, hung all round them, which have the same Effect when they walk. These great Circles or Rings are open in one Place, in form of a Crescent, by which they pass over the Small of the Leg. The Egyptian Ladies wore also very valuable ones; for we read in an Inscription found in Spain, that the Statue of Isis had Ornaments of Gold upon its Legs, set with two Emeralds, and with eleven other precious Stones. The Roman and Grecian Women also made use of them, as we have seen before. Trimalchio in Petronius, speaking of his Spouse, said, See what she wears upon her Legs. Videtis mulieris compedes. As it were by way of Complaint at her Expensiveness.
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