Holy Rider & Solomon amulets
Meaning
A mounted rider (Solomon, or the saint-hero Sisinnios or Sisoe) spears a prostrate female demon, usually the child-killer Gello or Alabasdria, the Byzantine descendant of Lamashtu. The reverse often shows the 'much-suffering eye' attacked by spears, animals and demons.
Intent
Worn on the body, especially by mothers and children, it drove away the demon who killed infants and caused miscarriage, and repelled the evil eye. Inscriptions such as 'Seal of Solomon, protect the wearer' spell it out.
Significance
These amulets show King Solomon recast as the master of demons, as in the Testament of Solomon, and the direct survival of Mesopotamian child-demon beliefs into Christianity. The Sisinnios legend survives in Greek, Slavic, Romanian and Ethiopian prayers.
History
Holy Rider amulets date from the 4th to the 7th century CE, especially in Syria, Palestine and Egypt, and appear in haematite, bronze and lead. The rider-and-demon theme continues in the St George iconography that became universal.
Making yours
Round or oval medallions 2–6 cm in cast bronze, haematite or lead. Inscriptions run around the rim.Byzantine, Coptic & Early Christian: the tradition
Early Christians inherited the full Roman amulet tradition, and church leaders fought it for centuries. John Chrysostom mocked mothers who tied bells and coins on babies, and the Council of Laodicea (c. 363) banned clergy from making phylacteries. Instead of disappearing, amulets were Christianised: Solomon became the demon-binder, saints replaced heroes, and relics, holy oil and earth from pilgrimage shrines became the most powerful protection of all. Byzantine amulets combined Greek magical formulas with the cross, the Trisagion and saints' names. The tradition fed Russian, Georgian, Armenian and Ethiopian Christian amulets and the pilgrimage souvenirs of medieval Europe.
Amuletic Armband with Holy Rider, Saints, and Magical Symbols6 th century date QS:P571,+550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Late Antique)
Seventh pentacle of the Sun17th century, edited 1889
Fatimid amulet in Sufic script with 6-pointed Solomon's seal11 th century date QS:P571,+1050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7
Solomon's star amulet for the victory of Islam
Perdrizet-Negotium-fig007-amulet
Amulet, Fauro, Solomon Islands, 1895More from Byzantine, Coptic & Early Christian: Encolpia & reliquary crosses · Pilgrim flasks & eulogia tokens · Other & unsorted Byzantine
Every type in the gallery
Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.