Obj. ID: 35883
Sacred and Ritual Amulet, Iran, circa 1930
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
From earliest times, man has tried to protect himself from misfortune by the use of objects which he considered holy or otherwise (e.g., magically) potent. Amulets and talismans are items generally worn around the neck or wrist, carried in a pocket or purse or hung on a wall. They are meant to protect or aid those who carried or wore them. The Hebrew word for amulet, kame‘a, has the root meaning "to bind". Jewish amulets are usually comprised of texts (either letters or graphic symbols) that are inscribed on some sort of material; some may also contain plant matter or precious stones. The texts of amulets usually include holy names that are believed to have the ability to affect reality, along with incantations summoning angels or other magical powers. For the most part, an amulet has a specific purpose: to ease childbirth, facilitate recovery from illness, improve one’s livelihood, and so on, but in the modern world many are also made for general protection.
Iran is the area of the Jewish world in which the use of amulets is most prevalent and from which the greatest quantity of silver amulets has survived. There are many categories for these talismans. This unusual amulet was used as protection for a birth, guarding both mother and child. This talisman carries representation of specific figures representing angels, copied from the book of "Raziel Ha-Malach", a book of amuletic formulas first published in Amsterdam in 1701. The angels - Sanoi, Sansanoi and Samangalaf, were invoked specifically for the protection against Lilith, the power of them stemming from an agreement with Lilith as recorded in an ancient story. It is highly unusual to find these angels so specifically represented on a metal amulet.
Inscription: Shadai Tzvaot.....
