Amulet ormiański ze zbiorów Biblioteki Jagiellońskiej
The amulet from the collection of the Jagiellonian Library

Summary/Abstract: Among the Armenian monuments of literature the amulets (Arm. hmajil) occupy a special place. By preserving the form of scrolls which was peculiar already to the ancient manuscripts, they are rooted in the tradition of the ancient mages. It was thought that a prayer or a curse which is somewhat entwined in such a scroll, is kept safe from the external adverse effects and owing to this fact it assumes great power. The Armenian amulet-scrolls were a manifestation of popular (folk) culture. Their content involved prayers, wishes and requests associated with healing and tutelary aspects. The amulet-scroll from the Jagiellonian Library in Kraków (signature no. 69901 I) dates back to the first quarter of the 19th century. The opinion about the 17th-century origin of this monument which prevails in Polish literature is considered to be erroneous by the author. The article contains an analysis of the state of preservation, material, dimensions, type of writing and the content of the amulet.

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