Since ancient times, people have believed in the magic of amulets, sometimes inconspicuous, and sometimes quite intricate gizmos, the functions of which can be very diverse. Amulets can bring happiness, protect a person from all sorts of misfortunes, bring wealth, etc. The most simple and ordinary thing can become an amulet, but their owners firmly believe in the strength and power of such an object.
Belief in the miraculous effect of amulets is more typical for pagans, nevertheless, many people of other religions willingly carry amulets with them.
Amulets can be made from various materials: bones and body parts of animals (even people, which is typical for African countries), from plants with magical and healing properties, from wood, metal, etc.
It is possible that in the Paleolithic era, rock paintings acted as an amulet for people. And so that, for example, the tribe had plenty of food, people depicted herds of fattened animals and scenes of a successful hunt.
For seven thousand years BC. ancient craftsmen sculpted from clay or carved toads from stone. Figures of these amphibians protected crops and humans from bad weather. In addition, some peoples believed that various unclean spirits could turn into a frog or toad, and therefore their own image frightened such entities away from people. On ancient Roman mosaic panels, you can often find images of owls. It was these birds that protected people from damage and the evil eye. The Uzbeks also believed in the protective power of the owl. The presence of such a bird in the house protected children from diseases, the feathers or claws of the owl served as a talisman, and along with coins and silver plates they were sewn to the children's skullcaps.
Residents of Africa and Australia, both men and women, often flaunt all kinds of rings, wrist and anklets, earrings. However, they do this not only for the sake of beauty, thus they "seal" their body and soul from the penetration of evil spirits there. Security bracelets are made from special varieties of trees and herbs, metals and stones. Such amulets are usually worn in those places where the pulse is heard, that is, in the place where you can “feel” the soul. By the way, Africans have a division of bracelets according to "sex", that is, women wear strictly female amulets, men - men, and children - children. If someone even accidentally confuses and puts on the wrong amulet, the guilty person is punished. Sometimes the blasphemer is simply expelled from the family for several days, or they are forced to bring a ransom: a large animal killed alone.
Burmese women, in order to protect themselves, went even further. In addition to wearing ankle and wrist bracelet rings, they also have to wear a separate ring at their waist. The total weight of such talismans can reach almost 10 kg, and it is strongly not recommended to remove them.
An indispensable attribute of the inhabitants of Central and Central Asia was (and indeed is) a copper kettle. According to a legend, tea brewed in a copper vessel is cleansed of harmful spirits or poisons, and no harmful consequences threaten a person after drinking tea.
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Widespread amulets were beads, bracelets, garters for braids made from pistachio seeds, jida seeds, fragrant carnations, mulberry seeds and pomegranate seeds. The inhabitants of Central Asia believed that evil spirits, Peri and Devi, smelled as strong as the most odorous plants: pepper, garlic, onion and rue seeds. Therefore, these herbs were sewn into cloth bags and worn on clothes or on hats. Uncleanness, sensing such a familiar smell, retreated from the person, believing that this is someone from “their own”.
Representatives of many professions, especially those associated with a risk to life, always had a lot of amulets in stock. The sailors were no exception. The form of the indispensable attributes of the vessel was often also symbolic. For example, the anchor with a trident (Neptune's anchor) was designed to provide the ship with protection from storms, underwater rocks and reefs. A jade amulet in the shape of a turtle with a cross on the shell was worn by sailors on a cord woven from horse hair. The turtle served as protection from Negro witchcraft and all kinds of slander.
The image of a pirate is already unthinkable without an earring in the ear, but few people know that in reality this jewelry was worn in the right ear for a reason, it was a talisman against rheumatism, a disease from which many sailors suffered. The gold earring already meant that the sailor had already circled the treacherous Cape Horn more than once, the “lucky” who did this more than once, to the envy of the rest, was allowed to paint the little fingernail on his left hand. Those daredevils who crossed the equator were awarded the right to wear a gold earring in their left ear, and they could also sit in a port tavern with their feet on the table.
Red corals were considered excellent talismans, and sailors carried them with them to protect themselves from witchcraft, to protect against hurricanes and epilepsy. A coral necklace worn around the neck at night ward off bad dreams and nightmares, and powdered coral was used as a cure for scurvy.
There is a special conversation about generic talismans, such objects are passed from generation to generation without losing their power. For example, the captain of the British Navy Middleton during the military campaigns of the Second World War wore a generic mascot - a colored grass apron. Rear Admiral N. Sobolev, a representative of the USSR Navy in the English fleet, wrote about this.
But Soviet sailors also had their own amulets. For example, the cap with earflaps of the commander of the submarine K-21 Nikolai Lunin has become a real legend of the Northern Fleet. He wore it on all military campaigns, and Admiral Arseniy Golovko begged for the famous "invisible hat" from the owner (he noted this in his memoirs). Be that as it may, K-21 is the only one of all the North Sea Katyushas survived until the end of the war.
Despite the fact that skepticism about amulets is widespread today, nevertheless, many people carry a toy, pebble or any other object with them, claiming that it is this amulet that provides them with success and good luck in business. However, it should be remembered that the purchased unknown amulet can be tuned to a negative wave, and this will not benefit its owner. Thus, the sorcerers of Africa "lock" the expelled evil entities in various items, for example, masks, which are then sold to tourists. So you should be very careful before purchasing any trinket or souvenir "for memory" in one of the villages of the Black Continent.