Apotropaic Amulets in Late Antiquity and Early Byzantium

FRANEK, Juraj. Apotropaic Amulets in Late Antiquity and Early Byzantium. In Department of Byzantine Philology and Folkloristics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athény, Řecko, 9.3. 2020. 2020.

Basic information

• Original name: Apotropaic Amulets in Late Antiquity and Early Byzantium
• Authors: FRANEK, Juraj.
• Edition: Department of Byzantine Philology and Folkloristics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athény, Řecko, 9.3. 2020, 2020.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Requested lectures
• Field of Study: 60304 Religious studies
• Country of publisher: Greece
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords in English: apotropaic amulets; holy rider; ancient magic; Solomon; Sisinnios; warrior saints
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

The lecture presented a corpus of Greek-inscribed Late Antique and Early Byzantine amulets (4th – 7th century CE) featuring the iconography of the so-called 'Holy Rider', identified variously with Jewish king Solomon and Christian saint Sisinnius. The apotropaic uses of this motif, which is further strengthened by names of the angels, protective formulae, and magical words, is well attested on gems, bronze amulets in the form of oblong pendants, circular medallions, rings, armbands, seals, etc. In addition to presenting different classes of material objects, the lecture briefly considered the relationship of these magical items with literary attestations for Solomon as a mage and master of demons and for Sisinnius as a 'Warrior Saint', combatting demons that attack esp. women during childbirth and new-borns.

Links

• MUNI/A/1014/2019, interní kód MU: Name: Interdisciplinární výzkum klasických jazyků, jejich literatur a příslušných kultur – 2020 (Acronym: Klasické jazyky a kultury)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A