Medieval Islamic Amulets, Talismans, and Magic
Venetia Porter|Liana Saif|Emilie Savage‐Smith
Magical designs are to be found on virtually every medium of material culture, including metalwork, objects carved wood, cloth, and jewelry. This chapter begins with a discussion what the term “magic” refers within context Islam. It then considers aspects magical literature where theories magic, before proceeding discuss elements can termed “magical vocabulary” examine traces preserved in medieval some later artifacts. Magic its traditional place Muslim societies has most succinctly been described by Michael Dolls as “a more forceful method supplication or super-charged prayer”. The pseudo-Aristotelian Hermetica is corpus comprising number texts that take form epistles conversations between Aristotle Alexander Great. For example, Istimakhis gives instructions for making four talismans amulets (khirz) intended ensure military success.