Worry beads

As worry beads or Koboloi (Greek Κομπολόι [ kɔ (m) bɔlɔi ], Μz. Ko (m) bologia Κομπολόγια to combos κόμπος " node " ) is called in Greece small chain of pearls that are strung on leather or synthetic threads. Exist depending on the version, the beads made ​​of wood, plastic, metal, glass or amber, but also from minerals such as turquoise.

Importance

The worry beads is a personal object of Mr. equipment. It serves as a finger play, pastime, sometimes referred to as an aid to meditation. Sometimes specimens shall be considered as a personal good luck charm. The lucky symbolism derives from the node that through which the chain is held together: This is an old symbol of good luck.

The worry beads in Greece has no religious significance. Although the Kombológia are sometimes apostrophized as "orthodox rosaries ", this name fits better to the so-called prayer cords of the Orthodox, Greek called Rope. These contain no pearls, but are simple strings with an appropriate number of nodes.

Origin

The worry beads originated in India or China ( Mala ); from there it came to the Arab world, where it was in Islam to prayer chain ( Tasbih ), in which each of the 99 beads represents one of the 99 names of Allah. Saint Dominic introduced it in the Christian world, from which later developed into the rosary; Pope Gregory XIII. led in 1573 the feast of the Rosary on the first Sunday in October.

In Nafplio Aris Evangelinos runs a small Komboloi Museum, in the prayer chains and their profaned forms from the traditions of the Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Catholics, and of course the Greeks and other Orthodox are collected and exhibited.