2896 – Hand Amulet: Mano Fico

Physical description:

A small bronze mano fico hand amulet, from Roman-period Egypt, with an integral loop so that it could be worn.

Museum classification:

Protection

Size:

30x10x8

Information:

A Roman house protection ritual described by Ovid (43 BCE - 17/18 CE) in Book V of his 'Fasti' (lines 427-444), describes the householder making this "mano fico" gesture to protect himself against malevolent ghosts:
"It was the month of May, so named after our forefathers (maiores), and it still retains part of the ancient custom. When midnight has come and lends silence to sleep, and dogs and all the varied fowls are hushed, the worshipper who bears the olden rite in mind and fears the gods arises; no knots constrict his feet; and he makes a sign with his thumb in the middle of his closed fingers, lest in his silence an insubstantial shade should meet him. And after washing his hands clean in spring water, he turns, and first he receives black beans and throws them away with face averted; but while he throws them, he says: 'These I cast; with these beans I redeem me and mine.' This he says nine times, without looking back: the shade is thought to gather the beans, and to follow unseen behind. Again he touches water, and clashes Temesan bronze, and asks the shade to go out of his house. When he has said nine times, 'Ghosts of my fathers, go forth!' he looks back, and thinks that he has duly performed the sacred rites." (English translation by Sir James George Frazer, from the Loeb Classical Library)
This amulet was formerly owned by Teddy Kolleck, Mayor of Jerusalem (1965-1993), and President and founder of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Metal (bronze)

Copyright ownership:

Museum of Witchcraft

A Roman house protection ritual described by Ovid (43 BCE - 17/18 CE) in Book V of his 'Fasti' (lines 427-444), describes the householder making this "mano fico" gesture to protect himself against malevolent ghosts:
"It was the month of May, so named after our forefathers (maiores), and it still retains part of the ancient custom. When midnight has come and lends silence to sleep, and dogs and all the varied fowls are hushed, the worshipper who bears the olden rite in mind and fears the gods arises; no knots constrict his feet; and he makes a sign with his thumb in the middle of his closed fingers, lest in his silence an insubstantial shade should meet him. And after washing his hands clean in spring water, he turns, and first he receives black beans and throws them away with face averted; but while he throws them, he says: 'These I cast; with these beans I redeem me and mine.' This he says nine times, without looking back: the shade is thought to gather the beans, and to follow unseen behind. Again he touches water, and clashes Temesan bronze, and asks the shade to go out of his house. When he has said nine times, 'Ghosts of my fathers, go forth!' he looks back, and thinks that he has duly performed the sacred rites." (English translation by Sir James George Frazer, from the Loeb Classical Library)
This amulet was formerly owned by Teddy Kolleck, Mayor of Jerusalem (1965-1993), and President and founder of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.