Table of Contents

1. Introduction, Christoffer Theis (University of Heidelberg, Germany), Paolo Vitellozzi (University of Perugia, Italy) 2. Writing on Magical Gems. Reflections on Inscribed Gemstone Amulets of the Imperial Period, Paolo Vitellozzi (University of Perugia, Italy) 3. Gods with Multiple Heads on Gems and Their Inscriptions, Christoffer Theis (University of Heidelberg, Germany) 4. Agency and Efficacy in Syriac Amulets Across the Ages, Nils Hallvard Korsvoll (University of Agder, Norway), 5. Demons in Runic and Latin Lead Amulets from Scandinavia, Rudolf Simek (University of Bonn, Germany) 6. Magical Letters: The Unintelligible Prophylactic Formulae, Edina Bozoky (University of Poitiers, France) 7. Talismans from Early Modern Spain: Morisco (and Old-Christian) Cases, Esther Fernández Medina (University of Warsaw, Poland) 8. Engravers of Sigils and Talismans in the 17th Century Ottoman Society According to the Journal of Evliya Çelebi, Özlem Denis Cosçun (University of Mainz, Germany) 9. Small Letters Against Big Mischances: A Glance at Safavid Amulet Culture, Sarah Kiyanrad (University of Heidelberg, Germany) Bibliography Index

Promotional Information

This book analyzes inscribed amulets from Antiquity to Early Modern Times, with a focus on their materiality and the rituals underlying their creation.

About the Author

Christoffer Theis is a post-doctoral scholar in Egyptology at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Paolo Vitellozzi is a post-doctoral scholar of Classics at the University of Perugia, Italy.

Reviews

This is a valuable overview of magical objects in different cultural milieus, including updated descriptions of magical bowls, Islamic, Norse, and European medieval amulets, and other talismans. A taxonomy of magical gems is also proposed in association with a large iconographical selection.
*Attilio Mastrocinque, Professor of Roman History, University of Verona, Italy*