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First Published in 2001. Everywhere that excavations of ancient sites, temples and tombs have been carried out, the objects most frequently brought to light are amulets and talismans. The use of these objects is not confined to anyone place, people and period - they are universal, reflecting a belief in magic which is as old as humankind and continues today. Amulets and talismans have always been used for protection against enemies and the evil eye, to attract love and to cast spells of all kinds. This remarkable work - both scholarly and highly readable - contains the original texts with translations and descriptions of key Egyptian, Sumerian, Assyrian, Hebrew, Christian, Gnostic and Muslim amulets and magical devices and figures. Among the subjects dealt with are ring amulets; the protective and therapeutic qualities of gemstones; the importance of colour, shape and form in amulets; the Kabbalistic names and signs, stones of the planets and their influences, mystical numbers, lucky and unlucky days and contracts with the devil. This is a rich resource for all those interested in ancient wisdom and timeless practices.
List of contents
1. THE UNIVERSAL USE OF AMULETS DUE TO MAN'S BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF DEMONS AND EVIL SPIRITS II. ARAB AND PERSIAN AMULETS AND TALISMANS Ill. BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN AMULETS IV. COPTIC AMULETS V. EGYPTIAN AMULETS VI. ETHIOPIAN (ABYSSINIAN) AMULETS VII. GNOSTIC AMULETS VIII. HEBREW AMULETS IX. MANDAEAN (MANDAITIC) AMULETS X. PHOENICIAN AMULETS XI. SAMARITAN AMULETS XII. SYRIAC AMULETS XIII. BABYLONIAN TERRA-COTTA DEVIL-TRAPS XIV. THE RING AMULET XV. STONES AND THEIR PROPHYLACTIC AND THERAPEUTIC QUALITIES XVI. THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOUR, SHAPE, AND FORM IN AMULETS XVII. THE SWASTIKA OR SVASTIKA XVIII. THE CROSS XIX. THE CRUCIFIX XX. THE EVIL EYE XXI. ~ABBALAH. XXII. ASTROLOGY XXIII. THE 1.'ABBALlSTIC NAMES AND SIGNS, AND MAGICAL FIGURES, AND SQUARES OF THE SEVEN ASTROLOGICAL STARS OR PLANETS. XXIV. THE STARS OR SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC AND THEIR INFLUENCES, THE HOUSES OF HEAVEN AND THE DEKANS XXV. THE STONES OF THE PLANETS AND THEIR INFLUENCES XXVI. THEORIES ABOUT NUMBERS AND THEIR MYSTIC AND SACRED CHARACTER XXVII. DIVINATION XXVIII. DIVINATION BY WATER XXIX. DIVINATION BY MEANS OF THE LIVER OF AN ANIMAL XXX. THE INSCRIBED BRONZE DIVINING DISK OF PERGAMON XXXI. DIVINATION BY EARTH OR SAND (GEOMANCY) XXXII. LUCKY AND UNLUCKY DAYS XXXIII. THE HAND OF FAPMAH. XXXIV. CONTRACTS WITH THE DEVIL. XXXV. ENVOUTEMENT XXXVI. MISCELLANEOUS
About the author
E.A. Wallis Budge was Keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities in the British Museum.
Summary
First Published in 2001. Everywhere that excavations of ancient sites, temples and tombs have been carried out, the objects most frequently brought to light are amulets and talismans. The use of these objects is not confined to anyone place, people and period - they are universal, reflecting a belief in magic which is as old as humankind and continues today. Amulets and talismans have always been used for protection against enemies and the evil eye, to attract love and to cast spells of all kinds. This remarkable work – both scholarly and highly readable - contains the original texts with translations and descriptions of key Egyptian, Sumerian, Assyrian, Hebrew, Christian, Gnostic and Muslim amulets and magical devices and figures. Among the subjects dealt with are ring amulets; the protective and therapeutic qualities of gemstones; the importance of colour, shape and form in amulets; the Kabbalistic names and signs, stones of the planets and their influences, mystical numbers, lucky and unlucky days and contracts with the devil. This is a rich resource for all those interested in ancient wisdom and timeless practices.
