Амулет
An amulet (Latin amuletum) can be any object but its most important characteristic is its alleged power to protect its owner from danger or harm.Шаблон:Sfn Amulets are different from talismans as a talisman is believed to bring luck or some other benefit, though it can offer protection as well.<ref name=Campo>Шаблон:Cite encyclopedia</ref> Amulets are often confused with pendants—charms that hang from necklaces—any given pendant may indeed be an amulet, but so may any other charm which purports to protect its owner from danger.
Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words in the form of a magical spell or incantation to repel evil or bad luck.
The word "amulet" comes from the Latin amuletum; the earliest extant use of the term is in Pliny's Natural History, meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble".Шаблон:Sfn<ref>Шаблон:Cite bookШаблон:Full</ref>
Amulets in folklore
Amulets vary considerably according to their time and place of origin. In many societies, religious objects serve as amulets, e.g. deriving from the ancient Celts, the clover, if it has four leaves, symbolizes good luck (not the Irish shamrock, which symbolizes the Christian Trinity).<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
In Bolivia, the god Ekeko furnishes a standard amulet, to whom one should offer at least one banknote or a cigarette to obtain fortune and welfare.<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
In certain areas of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, it is traditionally believed that the jackal's horn can grant wishes and reappear to its owner at its own accord when lost. Some Sinhalese believe that the horn can grant the holder invulnerability in any lawsuit.<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
In the Philippines, the local amulet is called agimat or anting-anting. According to folklore, the most powerful anting-anting is the hiyas ng saging (directly translated as pearl or gem of the banana). The hiyas must come from a mature banana and only comes out during midnight. Before the person can fully possess this agimat, he must fight a supernatural creature called kapre. Only then will he be its true owner. During holy week, devotees travel to Mount Banahaw to recharge their amulets.<ref>Шаблон:Cite webШаблон:Verify credibility </ref>
Amulets and ancient Rome
The amulet is particularly prevalent in ancient Roman society, being the inheritor of the ancient Greek tradition, and inextricably linked to Roman Religion and magic (see Magic in the Greco-Roman World). Amulets are usually outside of the normal sphere of religious experience though associations between certain gemstones and gods has been suggested, for example, Jupiter is represented on milky chalcedony, Sol on heliotrope, Mars on red jasper, Ceres on green jasper and Bacchus on amethyst.<ref>Шаблон:Cite bookШаблон:Full</ref> Amulets are worn to imbue the wearer with the associated powers of the gods rather than for any reasons of piety. The intrinsic power of the amulet is also evident from others bearing inscriptions, such as vterfexix (utere fexix) or "good luck to the user."<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref> Amulet boxes could also be used, such as the example from part of the Thetford treasure, Norfolk, UK, where a gold box intended for suspension around the neck was found to contain sulphur for its apotropaic qualities.Шаблон:Sfn
Amulets in the Abrahamic religions
In antiquity and the Middle Ages, most Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Orient believed in the protective and healing power of amulets or blessed objects. Talismans used by these peoples can be broken down into three main categories: talismans carried or worn on the body, talismans hung upon or above the bed of an infirm person, and medicinal talismans. This third category can be further divided into external and internal talismans. For example, an external amulet can be placed in a bath.
Jews, Christians, and Muslims have also at times used their holy books in a talisman-like manner in grave situations. For example, a bed-ridden and seriously ill person would have a holy book placed under part of the bed or cushion.<ref name="Arabic Talismans">Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
Judaism
Amulets are plentiful in the Jewish tradition, with examples of Solomon-era amulets existing in many museums. Due to proscription of idols, Jewish amulets emphasize text and names — the shape, material or color of an amulet makes no difference. Examples of textual amulets include the Silver Scroll, circa 630 BCE, and the still contemporary mezuzah. A counter-example, however, is the Hand of Miriam, an outline of a human hand.
Christianity
Шаблон:Further The Roman Catholic Church maintains that the legitimate use of sacramentals in its proper disposition is only encouraged by a firm faith and devotion in God, not through any magical or superstitious belief bestowed on the sacramental. In this regard, rosaries, scapular, medals and other devotional religious Catholic paraphernalia derive their power, not from the symbolism created by the object, rather by the faith of the believer in entrusting its power to God. While some Catholics may not fully appreciate this view, belief in pagan magic or polytheistic superstition through material in-animate objects are condemned by the Holy See.
Protestant denominations in general do not share in this belief, but other Christian Evangelicals sometimes advertise in television prayer clothes, or coins, and wallet reminders claiming to have intercessory powers on its bearer.
Lay Catholics are not permitted to perform exorcisms but they can use holy water, blessed salt and other sacramentals such as the Saint Benedict medal or the crucifix for warding off evil.<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
Crucifix
The crucifix is one of the key sacramentals used by Catholics and has been used to ward off evil for centuries. The imperial cross of Conrad II (1024–1039) referred to the power of the cross against evil.<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref> Many of the early theologians of the Catholic Church made reference to use of the sign of the cross by Christians to bless and to ward off demonic influences. The crucifix is still widely used as a talismanic sacramental by Christians.
Medals
A well-known amulet among Catholic Christians is the Saint Benedict medal which includes the Vade Retro Satana formula to ward off Satan. This medal has been in use at least since the 18th century and in 1742 it received the approval of Pope Benedict XIV. It later became part of the Roman Catholic ritual.<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
Scapulars
Some Catholic sacramentals are believed to defend against evil, by virtue of their association with a specific saint or archangel. The scapular of St. Michael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic devotional scapular associated with Archangel Michael, the chief enemy of Satan. Pope Pius IX gave this scapular his blessing, but it was first formally approved under Pope Leo XIII.
The form of this scapular is somewhat distinct, in that the two segments of cloth that constitute it have the form of a small shield; one is made of blue and the other of black cloth, and one of the bands likewise is blue and the other black. Both portions of the scapular bear the well-known representation of the Archangel St. Michael slaying the dragon and the inscription "Шаблон:Lang" meaning "Who is like God?".<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
Holy water
Catholic saints have written about the power of holy water as a force that repels evil. Saint Teresa of Avila, a Doctor of the Church who reported visions of Jesus and Mary, was a strong believer in the power of holy water and wrote that she used it with success to repel evil and temptations.<ref>Шаблон:Cite book</ref>
See also
Notes
References
External links
Шаблон:Commons category Шаблон:Wiktionary
Шаблон:Amulets and Talismans Шаблон:Superstitions Шаблон:Witchcraft
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An amulet is a small, easily worn item, often a pendant, that is charged with a general, impersonal spell. It differs from a talisman in that a talisman is always customized to the individual who will bear it. Amulets can be worn to ward o ff particular energies or to draw others. Common amulets include those for protection, good health, luck, and safe journeys. Many saints medallions are used as amulets because of the saint’s particular association with some activity or another—the St. Christopher medal tor safe journeys, the St. Anne medal for easy labor, et cetera. Amulets, since they are very general, do not have an “expiration date” the way talismans often do. The bearer may, however, be instructed to leave it where the moonlight will bathe it on the night o f the full moon, An amulet is a small, easily worn item, often a pendant, that is charged with a general, impersonal spell. It differs from a talisman in that a talisman is always customized to the individual who will bear it. Amulets can be worn to ward o ff particular energies or to draw others. Common amulets include those for protection, good health, luck, and safe journeys. Many saints medallions are used as amulets because of the saint’s particular association with some activity or another—the St. Christopher medal tor safe journeys, the St. Anne medal for easy labor, et cetera. Amulets, since they are very general, do not have an “expiration date” the way talismans often do. The bearer may, however, be instructed to leave it where the moonlight will bathe it on the night o f the full moon, or to leave it out in the sunlight on certain days of the vear in order to “recharge” the amulet and ensure that it stays potent.
Rabinovitch, Shelley and Lewis, James R. The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism. Citadel Press, 2004, pp. 6-7.
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Amulets are special objects or symbols often worn as medallions for the purpose of warding off evil. Amulets differ from talismans in that they passively protect their wearer from evil and harm. They are protection devices. Talismans, on the other hand, possess magical or supernatural powers of their own and transmit them to the owner. They attract some benefit to the possessor, whereas the amulet acts as a shield to repel harm. Many ancient magical symbols are regarded as being both amulets and talismans, able to attract good fortune as well as repelling bad luck. Examples of these are the swastika, the ankh, the five-pointed star or pentagram, and the sixpointed star or Solomon’s seal. The actual origin of these symbols is hidden in prehistory, and they have been carried all over the world. The word amulet is derived from the Latin amuletum. Amuletum was the name for the cyclamen, which people planted near their homes in the belief that its magical influence prevented any poisonous drug from having power to harm.
The idea of the amulet is ancient. The earliest amulets were likely to have been natural objects with unusual shapes or colors. Later, amulets were crafted into symbolic shapes. A figurine of one’s god(dess) has been and continues to be a popular amulet theme. Catholics utilize figurines and pictures of certain saints in a similar manner.
The ancient Egyptians used eye amulets to protect good health. They also used the Udjat eye on pottery, rings, and other amulets to ward off the forces of darkness. The Udjat eye was the characteristic stylization of the eye of the youthful Egyptian sun god Horus. The Udjat eye was placed on rings in ancient Egypt. The scarab beetle symbolized resurrection after death and protection against evil magic. Mummies wore a “heart scarab” as an amulet on their breasts. Seals and jeweled charms in the form of scarabs protected wearers against evil.
The Hebrews, as early as 2200 B.C., wore crescent moons to ward off the evil eye and attached bells to their clothing to ward off evil spirits. In ancient Rome (753 B.C.–A.D. 476) bronze figures of hands stood in houses to ward off evil. This amulet derives from the instinctive gesture to put the hand in front of the face to ward off the evil eye. The position of the fingers on these pre- Christian amulets was the same as that used today for blessing, namely with the thumb and first two fingers upright and the other two fingers closed.
Arabian amulets included dust gathered from tombs and carried in little sacks as protection against evil. Also worn were pieces of paper on which were written prayers, spells, magical names, or the attributes of God, such as “the compassionate” and “the forgiver.” A popular amulet of Islamic peoples beginning in the sixth century was the Hand of Fatima. The Hand of Fatima is frequently made of silver and jeweled with semiprecious stones. It is named after the daughter of the prophet Muhammad.Hands were also used as amulets on gates of Islamic buildings. Holy books of every culture (Koran, Torah, Bible) are considered to have protective powers. Pieces of parchment with scripture quotes, carried in boxes or pouches, are amulets in various religions.
Amulets with inscriptions are sometimes called charms, a term that also applies to spoken incantations. “YHWH,” the Hebrew name for God, appeared on many amulets and talismans in different spellings to help magicians conjure demons and protect them from attack by the spirits. The “Sator square” consists of some magical words arranged in the pattern of a square. It was inscribed on walls and vessels as early as ancient Rome (753 B.C.–A.D. 476) and was considered to be an amulet against sorcery, poisonous air, colic and pestilence, and for protecting cow’s milk from witchcraft. Similarly, circles inscribed with the names of God were used in England as recently as 1860 to repel demons. Eyes and phallic symbols are widely used on amulets. Eyes protect against evil spirits and are found on tombs, walls, utensils, and jewelry. The phallic symbol, often represented by a horn, also protects against the evil eye. The hand is an ancient amulet that has carried forward to the present.Hand gestures have long been used to ward off the evil eye. Two of the best known gestures are mano cornuta, “making horns,” in which the index and little finger are extended with the other two fingers and the thumb are folded into the palm; and the mano in fica or “the fig,” in which the hand is in a fist with the thumb protruding between the first and second fingers. The latter is a synonym for the female genitals. Rock-crystal amulets set in gold of a hand in the sign of the fig were made in southern Germany circa 1680. Amulets may be made of hands in these configurations and are still made and sold today. In many regions a red coral amulet depicting the sign of the fig is popular even today on watch-chains and necklaces.
Knots are another symbol traditionally believed to dispel the evil eye. Knots have long been tied in garments to ward off evil and have carried over into carvings and metalwork. Nurses used to wear elaborately patterned silver buckles on their belts to protect against sickness, much of which was blamed on the evil eye. The elaborate interlacings and intertwinings of Celtic and Saxon decorative art probably arose from the notion of warding off the evil eye also.
Witch balls are bright reflecting balls of glass that one often sees hanging up in antique shops. Their purpose was to ward off the evil eye by reflecting it back to the source. It was believed that the glass ball would attract to itself all the influences of ill luck that would otherwise have fallen upon the household. Early Christians continued to use many of the amulets of the ancients. The medieval Catholic Church promoted the use of numerous holy charms including rosaries and holy relics. The most common charm was the Agnus Dei, a small cake of wax originally made out of Passover candles, bearing images of the lamb and flag. When blessed by the pope, the Agnus Dei protected the wearer against attacks by the Devil, thunder, lightning, fire, drowning, death in childbirth, and other dangers. In the seventeenth century, rosaries were blessed as amulets against fire, tempest, fever, and evil spirits.
The idea that a charm needed to be consecrated in order to be effective is behind the belief that a lucky charm that someone gives one is more potent than one bought for oneself. The thought of the goodwill behind the gift has in a sense consecrated it. Bells have long been used as amulets to protect children, as well as horses, camels, cows, asses, and other important animals. Shopkeepers hung bells over their thresholds to keep evil spirits from entering their premises.
Plants can also act as amulets. Examples are the shamrock and garlic. Garlands of garlic worn around the neck or hung in a house are said to ward off evil spirits, creatures, and spells. In Mexico, the ajo macho is a huge garlic, sometimes as big as a baseball, used exclusively as an amulet against evil in general, but not against specific curses. According to custom, the ajo macho will work only if it is given as a gift, not if it is bought. In ancient Greece and Rome, garlic was placed at crossroads as an offering to Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and the night. Odysseus used garlic as protection against the witchcraft of Circe, who turned his men into swine. Garlic, of course, is also used to ward off vampires.
For Further Reading: Lockhart, J. G. Curses, Lucks, and Talismans. Detroit, MI: Single Tree Press, 1971. RavenWolf, Silver. To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1996.
- Lewis James