Apotropaism

Apotropaic (Greek ἀποτρόπαιος " defensive " ) called actions, cast out demons, or to avert disaster. There are measures in the context of a defensive spell, kept with those damaging spells or to be rendered ineffective.

Term

The word apotropaic arrived in the 19th century as a religious studies and antique scientific technical term in German. For the first time Related Otto Jahn it. Published in 1855 in his study about the superstition of the evil eye among the ancients Jahn establishing a link to the ancient concept of apotropaic gods ( apotrópaioi Theoi ). Among them was understood in ancient gods that could cause bad and were therefore repel, or those thought capable to ward off something bad.

Practice

To ward off a variety apotropaic actions and signs has been developed, such as the sign of the cross or the head of Medusa. To apotropaic actions it always comes back without the actors know their ritual origin. Certain things are particularly used where certain protection functions are awarded.

Once it was believed, for example, that it helps against a bone spur, every morning before you have breakfast, to underline with a fresh Haselnussrute about this and then rub it with saliva. The function of an apotropaic object sometimes arises from its nature. So is a stone with a natural hole which is to deny access to the spirits cattle barn, ideal due to its shape an abnormal object and thus to magical use. The opening can appear suited him as a counterpart to the closure before supernatural powers.

The defensive magic is practiced to a large extent outside of religious contexts, such as when wearing amulets, certain tattoos and clothing ( especially headgear, for example Baschlik ). But it also occurs in the context of Christian rites and customs. To this end, in addition to the rite of baptism and other liturgical uses of holy water as well as of incense is one of the practice of medieval church building, the west front to grace ( to the East, that is, the sun and the life Side) with depictions of devils and demons faces. Another application can be found in medieval castle architecture, where chapels (so-called Torkapellen ), often referred to simply Chapel bay window, / towers have been set up over the thoroughfare in gatehouses.

The original pre-Christian tradition, the spirits of the old year on New Year's Night (New Year) to drive with a noise magic, so by noise and fire, heard here too. This also forms the background of the carnival, in some places with a devil violin or a ratchet noise is made. In general, many roots resulting in the Middle Ages folk performances in apotropaic actions. The use of holy pictures, icons and relics for protection from evils is based on the magical effect which is attributed to the object. Even the ringing of bells could have an apotropaic character in the Middle Ages. The ringing of the bells to ward off storms has survived to modern times.