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Healing images. Gems and medicine
Author(s) -
Dasen Véronique
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
oxford journal of archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1468-0092
pISSN - 0262-5253
DOI - 10.1111/ojoa.12033
Subject(s) - mnemonic , formalism (music) , psychology , history , medicine , art , aesthetics , visual arts , cognitive psychology , musical
Summary The main purpose of magical gems was to secure divine protection, avert evil influences and heal various diseases. Some body parts are especially addressed, such as the stomach and the uterus. This concern seems to relate to ‘societal diseases’ also found in contemporary literature. How do these ‘healing pictures’ function? The analysis of the pictorial elements reveals different levels of therapeutic efficacy. Some images use visual plays upon words, others combine E gyptian and G raeco‐ R oman elements, allowing ‘bilingual’ readings. The mnemonic function of images, charakteres and voces magicae also requires further investigations. Objects could transmit the memory of oral rituals and knowledge. The transfer of magical figures on other media is very rare, but when it occurs, as on a few medical devices, it may help us to understand the mechanism of medico‐magical performance, combining formalism and inventiveness.