Bronze amulet with horses' hooves and pendants, Graeco-Roman, 100 BCE-400 CE

Made:
100 BCE-400 CE in Roman Empire
Solid bronze phallic amulet in form of pripus with hindquarters From the left: A97578

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Solid bronze phallic amulet in form of pripus with hindquarters
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

From the left: A97578
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Solid bronze phallic amulet in form of pripus with hindquarters of horse, suspension loop and chain at top and 2 pendants attached to base, Graeco-Roman, no provenance details, 100BC-400

Made from bronze, this amulet on the right shows a phallus with the hindquarters and hooves of a running horse. Phallic-shaped amulets were popularly worn as symbols of fertility and strength. They were essentially good luck charms.

An amulet was, and for many people still is, believed to have magical and spiritual powers, bringing good fortune and good health and protecting against bad luck, which includes disease and sickness. It is shown here with two other examples (A67895 and A97578).

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A154056
Materials:
bronze
type:
amulet