6-8th Century CE Aramaic Inscribed Incantation Bowl Fragment
One of the technologies of Sasanian period communities to deal with demons was to trap them in bowls, covered with incantations and buried beneath the lintel of the home. These incantations would bind and trap the demons, they would often be depicted at the center of the bowl bound in chains. Such bowls were strongly associated with the Jewish communities of this period. Though, a range of communities - Persians, Zoroastrians, Mandaeans, etc. - also employed these anti-demonic bowls. Here we have a fragment of such a bowl written in what appears to be Aramaic or pseudo-Aramaic, often sold to illiterate customers, for either Jewish or Mandaean use. The terracotta bowl also bears an inscription along the outside edge which is also still visible. A fine piece of magical history. Provenance: museum auction purchase. Guaranteed to be ethically sourced.
One of the technologies of Sasanian period communities to deal with demons was to trap them in bowls, covered with incantations and buried beneath the lintel of the home. These incantations would bind and trap the demons, they would often be depicted at the center of the bowl bound in chains. Such bowls were strongly associated with the Jewish communities of this period. Though, a range of communities - Persians, Zoroastrians, Mandaeans, etc. - also employed these anti-demonic bowls. Here we have a fragment of such a bowl written in what appears to be Aramaic or pseudo-Aramaic, often sold to illiterate customers, for either Jewish or Mandaean use. The terracotta bowl also bears an inscription along the outside edge which is also still visible. A fine piece of magical history. Provenance: museum auction purchase. Guaranteed to be ethically sourced.
One of the technologies of Sasanian period communities to deal with demons was to trap them in bowls, covered with incantations and buried beneath the lintel of the home. These incantations would bind and trap the demons, they would often be depicted at the center of the bowl bound in chains. Such bowls were strongly associated with the Jewish communities of this period. Though, a range of communities - Persians, Zoroastrians, Mandaeans, etc. - also employed these anti-demonic bowls. Here we have a fragment of such a bowl written in what appears to be Aramaic or pseudo-Aramaic, often sold to illiterate customers, for either Jewish or Mandaean use. The terracotta bowl also bears an inscription along the outside edge which is also still visible. A fine piece of magical history. Provenance: museum auction purchase. Guaranteed to be ethically sourced.