Gold Amulet Against the Evil Eye

This amulet consists of a small disc made of gold. It was stamped with an eye in the centre which is attacked by eleven protectors:

  • a thunderbolt,
  • a trident,
  • a swan with raised wings,
  • a running dog,
  • a scorpion,
  • Harpokrates on a slightly unshapely Lostus flower,
  • a serpent,
  • a winged phallus,
  • a lion,
  • a flying duck,
  • and a club.

The disc is decorated with a double beaded border and measures just 2 cm. It is dated between the first and the fourth century AD.

BM 1814,0704.1172 Amulet against the Evil Eye
Amulet against the Evil Eye, Gold, 2 cm, Roman, ca. 1st – 4th century. British Museum 1814,0704.1172 © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Link to the website of the artefact: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1814-0704-1172