You found it for a reason.
This protective amulet is part of a citywide charm drop inspired by Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World, and now it’s yours.
In ancient cultures, amulets were carried, worn, or placed nearby to guard against harm, attract luck, or invite clarity. Today, you’ve stepped into that tradition—right here in Toledo.
Your protection has been activated.
No two amulets serve exactly the same purpose. Each one represents a form of protection drawn from ancient beliefs—whether it’s guidance, balance, strength, or peace of mind.
As you explore Cursed!, look closely at the objects on view. Many once carried meaning similar to the amulet you found: small, powerful, and full of hope.
Consider this your invitation to look for magic in unexpected places.
In Mesopotamian myth, Humbaba was the monstrous guardian of the Cedar Forest, a distant land to the east. The Epic of Gilgamesh and other stories recount how the hero Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu killed Humbaba and presented his head to the gods. Humbaba’s fearsome face was believed to have protective powers and was depicted on a variety of objects, including clay plaques such as this.
The fierce wind demon Pazuzu was called on for protection against other demons, especially the child-harming Lamashtu. This imposing amulet, carved in the shape of Pazuzu’s head, bears a cuneiform inscription naming its owner as the exorcist and priest Adad-shumu-ushur, who served the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon (681–669 BCE) and Ashurbanipal (668–627 BCE).
The incantation reads:
I am Pazuzu, son of Hanpu, king of the evil wind demons. I ascended the mighty mountain that trembled. And the winds that I set against faced the west. I have broken their wings.
This Egyptian amulet was among the first objects acquired for the Toledo Museum of Art, purchased by the museum’s founders, Edward Drummond Libbey and Florence Scott Libbey, during a trip to Egypt in 1906. The depiction of sacred animals, such as the ibis and crocodile, as well as powerful symbols like the ankh (representing the hieroglyphic sign for “life”) and papyrus column.
The protective powers of amulets were thought to be activated through physical contact with the body. Most, like the winged scarab beetle in the center, were pierced to be sewn into the wrappings of the mummified deceased.
Belief in the Evil Eye was widespread in all ancient cultures and remains common in many cultures today. Certain people are thought to have the power to harm others simply through a jealous glance. Worn as a pendant, this amulet displays a human eye surrounded by protective symbols including a snake, a scorpion, and a thunderbolt, all intended to counteract the Evil Eye’s malignant power.
This creature with the body and arms of a soldier, the head of a rooster, and snakes for legs appears frequently on magical gems, but his identity remains uncertain. He carries a whip and a shield, suggesting a protective role, and inscriptions often equate him with the sun god or the Jewish god Yahweh.
On this gem, the inscription includes the names of the archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Ouriel.
Mask of Humbaba
Old Babylonian 2000–1700 BCE
Fired clay
From Ur (Diqdiqqah, Iraq)
The British Museum, 1931,1010.458
Amulet with the Demon Pazuzu
Neo-Assyrian, 681–627 BCE
Chalcedony
The Wyvern Collection, 2048
Cobra Amulet
Egyptian, 23rd–31st Dynasties, 818–332 BCE
Faience
Toledo Museum of Art, Gifts of Edward Drummond Libbey, 1906.151
Pendant Amulet Against the Evil Eye
Roman, 2nd century CE
Gold, pearls, and amethyst
Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum, 485 (formerly FIC.07.225)
Magical Gem with Snake-Legged Deity
Roman, 2nd–3rd centuries CE
Green and red jasper
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, University of Michigan, 0000.02.6054
You’ve unlocked special access to Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Use the code magicunlocked to claim your discounted ticket and experience the objects, stories, and beliefs that inspired this citywide activation.
Keep or share your amulet to spread the magic
Post your find and tag @toledomuseum
Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World explores how ancient cultures used spells, symbols, talismans, and ritual objects to influence the world around them. Discover magical artifacts, ancient beliefs, and the timeless human desire for protection, luck, and control over fate.
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