An amulet is a subject that concerns him, and which are granted protection and virtues or good luck.

An amulet (from Latin amuletum, "how to protect themselves") is a subject that concerns him, and which are granted protection and virtues or good luck. An amulet can be a gem, a statue, a piece, a drawing, a pendant, a ring, a plant, an animal, a gesture, etc.. Even words can sometimes be used, and "Vade retro, Satanas" (Latin for "going in, Satan") to expel evil or bad luck.

Amulets vary widely by location and time. Religious symbols often act in either the image of a god or a symbol representing the deity (as the Christian cross or the eye of Horus in ancient Egypt).

Each zodiac sign has a gem that is associated with an amulet, but it depends on customs.

Amulets are also associated with witchcraft and demonology, which consider that a cross or an inverted pentagram facilitates communication with demons.

Amulets can even be designed to protect a home, a building or even an entire village. In ancient Babylon, it was customary to wear a tiny cylinder of clay inlaid with precious stones to keep out evil spirits. The Romans, in turn, collecting the statues of Priapus, the god of luck and fertility, and many Americans today still hang horseshoes over their doors to protect against bad luck and unwanted visitors.

As far as we can go back, all companies were amulets. The earliest were probably as fragments of stone or metal whose unusual form and color could suggest magical properties (In Asia, India and Thailand, are still used pieces of pink coral for protection from evil eye). Over time, it has become common to produce amulets in the shape of animals, magical symbols or statues of gods or goddesses. Around the world, there are pictures of horns, hands (symbolizing fertility and life), and the eyes drawn or sculpted (suggesting eternal vigilance). Sometimes engraved with magic spells, spells and names of deities.

Although they have success all over the world, often associated with ancient Egyptian amulets, which were at all times, even in their graves. It was common to bury a mummy with dozens of amulets shaped beetle. These small figurines of stone would prevent the soul of the deceased to be eaten by Ammit. It would appear that the deceased had been more an important figure in his lifetime, he carried more of scarab amulets with him in his grave. When they discovered the body of the pharaoh Tutankhamen, in November 1922, over 140 beetles were slipped into the bandages which enveloped. But the living also knew to surround himself: amulets called ankh (hieroglyph symbolizing life) and Horus (or eye of Horus) protected from death, sickness and the evil eye.

The power of amulets is not seen as unlimited. For example, they protect only the dangers for which we have designed.

It should not be confused with amulets talismans. They aim to get offensive magic powers, unlike the amulets, which seek to protect themselves.