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DOI Artikel:Majda, Tadeusz: The Musilm magical-medicinal Bowl in the Collections of the National Museum in Warsaw
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18945#0073
Tadeusz Majda
The Muslim Magical-Medicinal
Bowl in the Collections of
the National Museum in Warsaw
In Arabic magical-prophetic and magical-medicinal bowls are also known as
tasdt ar-ragfa (deterrent-bowls), ta sat al-tarba (bowls of terror), tasdt al-haufa
(bowls of fear), tasdt al-hadda (bowls of anxiety) or talsam (talismans). The
various bowl names are derived from their basic intended function, which is to
protect man from various supernatural powers and to ward off demon powers,
mainly by means of frightening them away and of casting spells. A widespread
conviction exists among Arab peoples that a disease-carrying demon enters the
human body at a moment when a person is in a state of extreme excitement,
weakness or fear.
In European studies relating to this subject the bowls are defined as deter-
rent, magical, healing, prophetic, anti-rabic or talisman bowls.
Belief in magic among Muslim country- and townspeople takes its origins in
the distant past. Magic and astrology flourished in ancient Mesopotamia,
Egypt and Persia. In the settling of important matters concerning both the in-
dividual and the state, the help of idols, deities and spirits was often called up-
on. A clear division was made between good and evil spirits, the good ones
helping people, both protecting and warning them against the influences of
supernatural forces, while evil spirits attacked men, especially when in states of
illness, weakness or unhappiness. Belief in the influence of supernatural pow-
ers on human life gave rise to a whole system of actions, such as deterring, be-
seeching and making offerings to the spirits to ward off such forces. Preventa-
tive activities were intended to disturb the influences of evil powers. In order
to cure a sick or possessed man, it was seen as necessary to eliminate or render
harmless the impure forces. A sorcerer made contact with such supernatural
forces, enunciating the suitable magical formulas. Texts intended to protect the
people from evil spirits were placed on various objects known as amulets or ta-
lismans. These could be clay tablets, rings, as well as loops or chains, although
the most simplistic and widely available talismans were pieces of cloth origina-
ting from places of worship.
67
The Muslim Magical-Medicinal
Bowl in the Collections of
the National Museum in Warsaw
In Arabic magical-prophetic and magical-medicinal bowls are also known as
tasdt ar-ragfa (deterrent-bowls), ta sat al-tarba (bowls of terror), tasdt al-haufa
(bowls of fear), tasdt al-hadda (bowls of anxiety) or talsam (talismans). The
various bowl names are derived from their basic intended function, which is to
protect man from various supernatural powers and to ward off demon powers,
mainly by means of frightening them away and of casting spells. A widespread
conviction exists among Arab peoples that a disease-carrying demon enters the
human body at a moment when a person is in a state of extreme excitement,
weakness or fear.
In European studies relating to this subject the bowls are defined as deter-
rent, magical, healing, prophetic, anti-rabic or talisman bowls.
Belief in magic among Muslim country- and townspeople takes its origins in
the distant past. Magic and astrology flourished in ancient Mesopotamia,
Egypt and Persia. In the settling of important matters concerning both the in-
dividual and the state, the help of idols, deities and spirits was often called up-
on. A clear division was made between good and evil spirits, the good ones
helping people, both protecting and warning them against the influences of
supernatural forces, while evil spirits attacked men, especially when in states of
illness, weakness or unhappiness. Belief in the influence of supernatural pow-
ers on human life gave rise to a whole system of actions, such as deterring, be-
seeching and making offerings to the spirits to ward off such forces. Preventa-
tive activities were intended to disturb the influences of evil powers. In order
to cure a sick or possessed man, it was seen as necessary to eliminate or render
harmless the impure forces. A sorcerer made contact with such supernatural
forces, enunciating the suitable magical formulas. Texts intended to protect the
people from evil spirits were placed on various objects known as amulets or ta-
lismans. These could be clay tablets, rings, as well as loops or chains, although
the most simplistic and widely available talismans were pieces of cloth origina-
ting from places of worship.
67