ANKLETS. This word does not occur in Scripture, but the ornament which it denotes is clearly indicated by 'the tinkling (or jingling) ornaments about the feet,' mentioned in the curious description of female attire which we find in Is. iii. Even in the absence of special notice, we might very safely conclude that an ornament to which Oriental women have always been so partial was not unknown to the Jewish ladies. In Egypt anklets of gold have been found, which are gene rally in the shape of simple rings, often however in that of snakes, and sometimes inlaid with enamel or even precious stones. The sculptures shew that they were worn by men as well as women (Wilkin son's Anc. iii. 375). Their present use among the women of Arabia and Egypt sufficiently illustrates the Scriptural allusion. The Koran (xxiv. 31) forbids `women to make a noise with their feet, which, says Mr. Lane (Mod. Egyptians, i. 221), to the practice of knocking to gether the anklets, which the Arab women in the time of the prophet used to wear, and which are still worn by many women in Egypt.' Elsewhere (ii. 364) the same writer states, ' Anklets of solid gold and silver, and of the form here sketched (like fig. 3), are worn by some ladies, but are more un common than they formerly were. They are of course very heavy, and, knocking together as the woman walks, make a ringing noise.' Ile thinks that in the text referred to (Is. iii. 16) the prophet
alludes to this kind of anklet, but admits that the description may apply to another kind, of which he thus speaks further on (ii. 368) : ' Anklets of solid silver are worn by the wives of some of the richer peasants, and of the sheykhs of villages. Small ones of iron are worn by many children. It was also a common custom among the Arabs for girls or young women to wear a string of bells on their feet. I have seen many little girls in Cairo with small round bells attached to their anklets. Per haps it is to the sound of ornaments of this kind, rather than of the more common anklet, that Isaiah alludes' (see also Chardin, torn. i. 133, 148, 194). These belled anklets occur also in India ANNA ('Avva, same name as HANNAH). i7 The wife of Tobit, whose history is contained in the apocryphal book named after him (Tob. i. 9, etc.; 2. An aged widow, daughter of Phauuel, of the tribe of Asher. She had married early, but after seven years her husband died, and during her long widowhood she daily attended the morning and evening services of the Temple. Anna was eighty four years old when the infant Jesus was brought to the Temple by his mother, and entering as Simeon pronounced his thanksgiving, she also broke forth in praise to God for the fulfilment of his ancient promises (Luke ii. 36-38).—J. K.