[Ansteorra] Period Religious Jewelery -- Or Maybe Not!

[J.G. Bretz]

>>Darius brings up a good point -- Are amulets considered religious?  Many
scholars make quite the point >>of separating magic from religion and place
amulets, talismans and other "protective" (superstitious) >>paraphernalia in
a different research bin from "religious" jewelry.  (So which bin does a St.
Christopher >>medal go in?)

I would think it is a matter of perspective really...

Modern society allows us to compartmentalize religion.  Outward expression
of religion outside of the designated times for such makes people
uncomfortable. If religion is integrated in daily life as it was certainly
in earlier cultures, and throughout most of period, there really is no
difference.  A talisman is religious because there is no separation of such,
it is just integrated into the daily culture.  Many Hindu women in India
still do doorway rice painting as a morning offering to the gods.  It takes
on both cultural and religious significance beyond what we experience in the
west.  In my research, it is not necessarily a designation of identifying
oneself as one religion or the other, it is a cultural expression of common
cultural beliefs.  Therefore, any culturally appropriate amulet would
designate one culture or another.  Perhaps a crudely carved goddess figure
for an early culture, and saints medals for another.

Bia
__________________________
HL Biatrichi di Palermo
Seer to the nobility of since 1492

Non essiri duci sinno tu mancianu, non essiri amaru sinno ti futanu



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