Since the dawn of history, mankind has sought to
bring luck and avert evil through the wearing of
amulets. Amutets can carry a thousand different
powers, depending on their shape, their color or
the material they are made from. In Ancient
Mexico, amulets of stone and shell were
especially popular. Worn on leather or fibre
cords around the neck, they invited the
benevolent protection of the gods, stimulated
bravery in war, and brought good luck and
sexual success in times of peace. This unusual
amulet depicts the stylized head of a snake. The
serpent was a powerful deity in Ancient America,
often associated with the underworld. However,
a talisman like this may simply have been worn
to prevent snakebite. As we hold it in our hands
today, admiring its abstract contours, we cannot
help but wonder who held it in just this way
centuries ago. L. 3.7cm(1 1/2IN)
- (PF.2130)
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