Abstract:
As an element of material culture and popular belief, amulets reflect the religious and cultural identity of their producers and/or wearers. However, they may also testify to centuries-old iconographical (and textual) traditions. To remain effective and to meet the prevailing religious concepts of the time, those ancient amuletic iconographies and textual elements needed to be reinterpreted. This article takes a look into continuities between Sasanian and Islamic amulet culture in Iran, focusing on the technique of binding and sealing forces referred to on many Late Antique and Islamic amulets.
Article note: I want to thank kindly Stefan Heidemann, Universität Hamburg, who drew my attention to an Early Islamic amulet recorded in the Universität Hamburg, Islamic Studies, Photo Archive (Inv.no. SB 10754) discussed below, and encouraged me to publish it. He further offered many helpful comments.
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