Amulets, materiality and experience: demarcating space in the Roman world

Abstract

For centuries, Romans used amulets to protect their health, bodies, and possessions. While the world changed after the arrival of Christianity, the use of amulets continued. This doctoral thesis considered amulets from before and after the rise of Christianity with a focus on their materiality, use and experience. All aspects of amulet use were incorporated: from the initial decision to use an amulet, the location it was placed on, to the full sensory experience of its material qualities. Objects dating from the first century BCE to the sixth century CE, as well as manuals containing instructions for making amulets, were examined in order to understand why amulets remained attractive for centuries. It is in the relation between change and continuity that the answer was found. The demarcation of space remained fundamental, while the incorporation of Christian elements introduced new experiences.