The ring shown above, from Rome around the fifth century, is decorated with a hand pulling on an earlobe. It's far from the only example in Roman jewelry, so the design must have some meaning, unless it was a symbol of some designer or celebrity. That was long before The Carol Burnett Show, which was the first thing people thought of.
Minnesotastan asked his readers what they knew, and found that during the late Roman Empire, this kind of jewelry was given as a gift, and the hand pulling at the ear was a symbol of someone wanting attention. The ear was believed to be the seat of memory, so the design is saying, literally, "remember me." This gesture traveled far and wide, and the meaning in various countries and cultures changed a little bit over time. See more examples of ear-pulling jewelry (but not uncomfortable earrings) at TYWKIWDBI.
(Image credit: Nic McPhee)
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