Amulet

Amulet, any object worn as a charm. An amulet is most often a stone, or piece of metal, with either an inscription or figures engraved on it. Usually suspended from the neck, it is worn as a guard against sickness or witchcraft. The ancient Egyptians wore amulets, sometimes in the form of necklaces. Among the Greeks, such a protective charm was called phylaktērion. The Jewish tefillin—boxes containing passages of the Torah written on parchment, worn as a sacred reminder of God's Law—were mistakenly regarded as charms by some non-Jews and are thus often called phylacteries. However, amulets inscribed with mystical symbols or inscriptions were worn by some Jews, particularly those who followed the tradition of the Kaballah. The use of amulets was inherited by the Christian Church, the usual inscription on them being ichthys (the Greek word for “fish”), because it contained the initials of the Greek words for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. Among Gnostic sects, abraxas stones, gems with the Greek word abraxas engraved on them, were often used. Amulets became so common among Christians that, in the 4th century, the clergy were forbidden to make or sell them on pain of deprivation of holy orders; in 721 the wearing of amulets was solemnly condemned by the Church. With the spread of Arabian astronomy, the astrological amulet, or talisman, became increasingly popular. Throughout the Middle East the practice of wearing amulets is almost universal.