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Magical Gems and Amulets
Amulets were used throughout the classical world to heal, protect, curse enemies, or arouse erotic passion. In the first century AD, professional magicians in Roman Egypt began to engrave spells on semiprecious stones. They also wrote magical texts on thin sheets of gold, silver, or bronze, which were rolled up and worn in amulet cases. Curses were typically written on lead tablets and buried in graves.
Nine magical gems
Roman, AD 100-250
Agate (30), green chalcedony (31 and 34), green jasper (32), yellow jasper (33 and 38), chalcedony (35), hematite (36), and lapis lazuli (37)
Getty Villa7496
Magical Gems and Amulets
Amulets were used throughout the classical world to heal, protect, curse enemies, or arouse erotic passion. In the first century AD, professional magicians in Roman Egypt began to engrave spells on semiprecious stones. They also wrote magical texts on thin sheets of gold, silver, or bronze, which were rolled up and worn in amulet cases. Curses were typically written on lead tablets and buried in graves.
Nine magical gems
Roman, AD 100-250
Agate (30), green chalcedony (31 and 34), green jasper (32), yellow jasper (33 and 38), chalcedony (35), hematite (36), and lapis lazuli (37)