The Amulet Project, Folklore and Social Change: Commentary on the artwork by Marie Brett (original) (raw)
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A history of amulets in ten objects
Science Museum Group Journal , 2019
What are amulets? How are they situated in the larger narrative of European healing? Varied and complex objects, amulets present both challenges and opportunities for historians and museums alike. Yet an examination of these often-overlooked items within a medical context can provide significant information about cure and protection over different times and geographies. This article analyses ten amulets from the Science Museum collections, and asks what we can learn from exploring these objects' material features and varying functions. It argues for a reconsideration of amulets from their categorisation by nineteenth-and twentieth-century collectors and classification by modern museums, to their recognition as a significant part of the history of healing.
Jahazi : Culture Arts Performance, 2022
Based on fieldwork conducted in Abomey in 2021, this article focuses on a "bo," one of the "amazon amulets" collected in 1890 by a French merchant from the corpses of the Agodjie (amazons) who fought and swayed the French colonial army. Currently housed at the Musée du Quai Branly in France, this amulet is not among the objects that France will return in the fall of 2021. In France as in Benin, it is never publicly mentioned. Consisting of human remains and an iguana head, it is identified as a "destructive bo" in the museum's notices. Yet the heiresses of the Amazons and Queen Hangbe (founder of this female army, who ruled from 1708 to 1711) and the kpɔjitɔ (women embodying the deceased queen mothers) tell a very different story about it: it is a "bo of forgetting," that is, a magical power that causes forgetting and confusion. Its uses can be personal, political and diplomatic. Considering this "bo of forgetting " as a metaphor of the patrimonial forgetting in which knowledge, transmissions and feminine powers are held, this article aims at restoring the history, the uses and the actuality of the matrimony of the Amazons of the kingdom of Abomey.
Amulets and Superstitions - E. A. Wallis Budge
A vulture tied to the neck of a mummy gave it the strength of the goddess Isis … Women in Central Africa ate a frog to have large families … A serpent head amulet could ward off venomous snakes … Ethiopians wore stones to keep the Evil Eye away … Abracdabra healed a man suffering from fever … Hebrew women wore stones to prevent miscarriage … Emeralds cured diseases of the eye … Garnets protected man from terrifying dreams and skin diseases … Melitites warded off infantile diseases … Moonstones protected men against epilepsy … Rubies protected men from witchcraft, plague, and famine … By far the most thorough, most fascinating coverage of amulets and superstitions is the present book by Dr. E. Wallis Budge. In it he presents a wealth of information on the origins of amulets and talismans of many cultures and traditions: Arab, Persian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Gnostic, Hebrew, Mandaean, Phoenician, Samaritan, and Syriac. He discusses ring amulets, terra cotta devil-traps; stones and their prophylactic and therapeutic qualities; the importance of color, shape, and form in amulets; the Swastika; the cross; the crucifix; the evil eye; the Kabbalah; astrology; the seven astrological planets; theories about numbers (good and bad luck numbers, sequences, magic squares); divination by water, earth, or sand; lucky and unlucky days; the hand of Fatimah; contracts with the devil and envoûtement. The text is profusely illustrated, with many reproductions of amulets, stones, prayers, crosses, numbers, seals, gods, rings, signs of the zodiac, and much more. Dr. Budge of the British Museum was one of the foremost Egyptologists of the twentieth century. Dover also published many of his other works: The Dwellers on the Nile, Egyptian Magic, The Egyptian Book of the Dead, and The Gods of the Egyptians. By Sir Budge, (1857-1934), curator of the Egyptian Antiquities in the British Museum, who also translated the "Egyptian Book of the Dead." From the book's preface: "I have described the principal amulets which were used by the Semitic peoples of Western Asia, Egypt, Nambia and Ethiopia. I have added a series of short chapters in which I have tried to set forth the principal theories about the powers of 'working' amulets, and the meaning of the inscriptions and symbols inscribed on them, and to indicate the beliefs concerning them which were held by the ancient Babylonian and Egyptian magicians, and by the later Kabbalists, Gnostics, both pagan and Christian, and astrologers. And I have incorporated in the many of the views of the astrologers, makers of horoscopes, casters of nativities, diviners, crystal gazers, palmists and fortune-tellers with who I came in contact in Egypt, the Sudan and Mesopotamia." The author discusses: the Evil Eye, and amulets used by: Arabs, Persians, Babylonians, Coptics, Egyptians, Abyssinians, Gnostic, Hebrew, Mandaeen, Phoenician, Samaritan, Syriac; the Ring amulet; beliefs concerning Divination by water or animal's livers or sand; the Hand of Fatima; Babylonian demon Humbaba, god Khepera, Rd, Thoth; the Seven Seals; and much, much more. Many photographs and illustrations. Originally published in 1930. Here are the contents to this Amazing Unknown of our Age THE UNIVERSAL USE OF AMULETS DUE TO MAN’S PAGE BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF DEMONS EVIL SPIRITS. AND 1 II. ARAB AND PERSIAN AMULETS AND TALISMANS 33 III. BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN AMULETS ... 82 IV. COPTIC AMULETS . ... 127 V. EGYPTIAN AMULETS . ... 133 VI. ETHIOPIAN (ABYSSINIAN) AMULETS ... 177 VII. GNOSTIC AMULETS . ... 200 VIII. HEBREW AMULETS . ... 212 IX. MANDAEAN (MANDAITIC) AMULETS ... 239 X. PHOENICIAN AMULETS. 250 XI. SAMARITAN AMULETS . ... 258 XII. SYRIAC AMULETS . • • • 272 XIII. BABYLONIAN TERRA-COTTA DEVIL-TRAPS • • • 283 XIV. THE RING AMULET . • • • 291 XV. STONES AND THEIR PROPHYLACTIC AND THERA- PEUTIC QUALITIES . 306 XVI. THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOUR, SHAPE, AND FORM IN AMULETS . 326 XVII. THE SWASTIKA OR SVASTIKA. 331 XVIII. THE CROSS 336 XIX. THE CRUCIFIX . 350 IV CONTENTS PAGE THE EVIL EYE ... ... ... ... ... 354 XXI. KABBALAH... ... ... ... ... ... 366 XXII. ASTROLOGY ... ... ... ... ... 380 XXIII. THE KABBALISTIC NAMES AND SIGNS, AND MAGICAL FIGURES, AND SQUARES OF THE SEVEN ASTROLOGICAL STARS OR PLANETS... 390 XXIV. THE STARS OR SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC AND THEIR INFLUENCES, THE HOUSES OF HEAVEN AND THE DEKANS. ... ... 406 XXV. THE STONES OF THE PLANETS AND THEIR INFLUENCES . 423 XXVI. THEORIES ABOUT NUMBERS AND THEIR MYSTIC AND SACRED CHARACTER 427 XXVII. DIVINATION . 443 XXVIII. DIVINATION BY WATER. 445 XXIX. DIVINATION BY MEANS OF THE LIVER OF AN ANIMAL ... ... ... ... 450 XXX. THE INSCRIBED BRONZE DIVINING DISK OF PERGAMON . 458 XXXI. DIVINATION BY EARTH OR SAND (GEOMANCY) 460 XXXII. LUCKY AND UNLUCKY DAYS. 464 XXXIII. THE HAND OF FATIMAII. 467 XXXIV. CONTRACTS WITH THE DEVIL. 472 XXXV. ENVOUTEMENT. 481 XXXVI. MISCELLANEOUS. 487 INDEX ... . ... 497 V LIST OF PLATES PLATE PAGE I.—1. Arabic amulet made of the skin of the unborn kid 35 2. Arabic amulet made of paper 35 II. Silver amulet case inscribed on both sides with a series of short texts from the Kur’an ... 37 III. Silver necklace with plaques and tubes to hold small amuletic rolls . 41 IV. Mirza Khan’s Kur’an amulet 57 V. Persian agate amulet inscribed with texts from the Kur’an . 63 VI. Persian agate amulet inscribed with texts from the Kur’an 65 VII.—1. Mother-of-pearl amulet, Christ baptized by John 2. Mother-of-pearl amulet for a girl. From the Falls of the Jordan ... ... ... 71 VIII.—1 & 2. Two silver Indian pregnancy amulets... 75 3. Brass amulet of a soldier 75 4. Silver Hebrew amulet with the hexagon of Solomon 75 5 & 6. Two silver pregnancy amulets inscribed in Arabic 75 IX.—1. Amulet armlet of a Turkish soldier. 77 2. Slate amulet inscribed with Arabic letters as numerals 77 X. Ten archaic Babylonian and Assyrian amulets 83 XI. Seven Babylonian cylinder-seal amulets ... VI LIST OF PLATES PLATE PAGE XII. Eight Babylonian and Assyrian amulets . 93 XIII. Three Babylonian amulets . 95 XIV. Bronze Pazuzu-Nergal plaque . 105 XV. Lamashtu plaque—obverse .107 XVI. Lamashtu plaque—reverse . Ill XVII. The amulet of’Absara Dengel 181 XVIII. Extract from a Mandaean amulet in the British Museum 243 XIX. Extract from a Mandaean amulet with magical drawings 245 XX. Extract from a Samaritan phylactery in the British Museum 263 XXL The metal case which held the same 265 XXII. A group of five crosses in gold, Limoges enamel and steel , LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Face of the Babylonian demon Humbaba... ... ... 2 The god Khepera in his phantom boat ... ... ... 7 Ra, the Sun-god ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Thoth, the Word-god... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Specimens of Arabic magical writings ... ... ... 39 The Seven Seals and the Hexagram ... ... ... 40 Magical number squares ... ... ... ... 45 and 46 The Kur’an amulet and its case with a magnifying lens ... 53 The Ayat al-Kursi ... ... ... ... ... ... 54 The Ayat al-’Arsh ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 The Fatihat al-Kitab ... ... ... ... ... 59 The Surah of the Unity of God ... ... ... ... 61 The animal amulets inscribed on their bases ... ... 86 Cylinder-seal engraved with a figure of the naked goddess 92 A Babylonian house-amulet . ... ... ... 97 Two prophylactic figures ... ... ... ... ... 100 Two prophylactic figures ... ... ... ... ... 101 The Sirrush ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 102 Two men beating a drum ... ... ... ... ... 103 Fish amulet ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 103 Pazuzu, son of Hanpu, king of the air devils ... ... 110 Two Achaemenian seals ... ... ... ... ... 125 Six Pehlevi seals ... ... ... ... ... ... 126 Saint George of Lydda ... ... ... ... ... 131 The amulet of the Sun-god at sunrise and sunset. 134 The Prayer-spell of the Heart-scarab ... ... ... 139 The Baboon, the associate of Thoth " ... ... ... 141 The Cat slaughtering the Serpent of Darkness . 145 The Vulture-goddess Mut ... ' ... ... ... 150 The Divine Goose ... ... v ... ... ... ... 151 Amuletic figures of Egyptian gods and goddesses... 156-158 The Shabti Spell 159 The Metternich Stele—obverse .166 The Metternich Stele—reverse Egyptian Amulets The magical forms of the Cross in Ethiopia The Divine Face The Chariot of Elijah The Net in which Solomon caught devils ... AND THE REST FROM PAGE 190 ONWARD- Solomon and his wife... Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden The Cross with the Divine Face The Cross of’Abu Fara Chnoumis above a Bacchic altar Anubis and the goddess of Truth ... Horns the Child in the boat of Iao The god Abrasax The three-headed Hecate, the Queen of Hell A god in the form of Osiris as a mummy ... The Arch-demon Set, ass-headed Amulet from a magical papyrus Hebrew child-bed amulet Hexagram amulet from the Book of Raziel Two triangles amulet from the Book of Raziel Amulet to secure success in business Three amulets in the secret writing Portrait of Cornelius Agrippa Seven seal amulets inscribed in Hebrew, etc.
Textual Amulets from Antiquity to Early Modern Times - The Shape of Words
Bloomsbury Studies in Material Religion, 2023
Comparing amulets over time and space, this volume focuses on the function of written words on these fascinating artefacts. Ranging from Roman Egypt to the Middle Ages and the Modern period, this book provides an overview on these artefacts in the Mediterranean world and beyond, including Europe, Iran and Turkey. A deep analysis of the textuality of amulets provides comparative information on themes and structures of the religious traditions examined. A strong emphasis is placed on the material features of the amulets and their connections to their ritual purposes. The textual content, as well as other characteristics, is examined systematically, in order to establish patterns of influence and diffusion. The question of the production, which includes the relationship that linked professional magicians, artists and craftsmen to their clientele, is also discussed, as well as the sacred and cultural economies involved.
The Use of an Ancient Egyptian Amulet for the Living: University of Memphis (1999.4.268)
This research analyzes the historical context and symbolism of a unique ancient Egyptian artifact, an ancestor bust amulet, in the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology from the University of Memphis (1994.4.268). This amulet is one of only four known in the world. We suggest that the living wore it as a representation of deceased relatives who achieved eternal life after successfully journeying through the Realm of the Dead, gaining the title of “effective spirit.” The deceased then become intermediaries and affected the living. Because of this, the amulet offered protection by symbolizing the solar cycle of renewed existence.
Textual Amulets and Writing Traditions in the Ancient World
Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic, ed. David Frankfurter, 2019
A survey of the development of 'unlettered' amulets to fully written amulets from earliest Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Phoenician times on through to the Greek and Roman periods, with particular attention paid to the birth of Babylonian cuneiform amulets; the Pharaonic mortuary texts and decree capsules; the Punic gold lamellae; the early Hebrew amulets; and the first inscribed Greek incantations, emphasizing the continuity and continuance of these amuletic traditions well into the Roman period.
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