Sieraden hebben in veel landen meer functies dan alleen versiering. Sieraden vertellen over de status en rijkdom van een vrouw en haar gezin, over de regio waar ze vandaan komt, over haar angsten en geloof. In dit artikel kijken we naar specifieke sieraden die gebruikt worden in de zar-ceremonie in Egypte.

Sieraden hebben in veel landen meer functies dan alleen versiering. Sieraden vertellen over de status en rijkdom van een vrouw en haar gezin, over de regio waar ze vandaan komt, over haar angsten en geloof. In dit artikel kijken we naar een van de meest in het oog springende verschillen in het gebruik van sieraden tussen onze wereld en die van het Midden-Oosten: sieraden als economisch middel.

Until the 1960's women in the Bahariya oasis in Egypt's Western Desert wore a very specific amulet. The origin of this amulet has long been subject of discussion. They have been interpreted as derivates of the zar-amulets or imitation Nubian coins, and their possible relation to the Siwa adrim has been investigated as well, but none of these studies have been able to definitively conclude where the unique decoration on the amulets finds its source. In this paper I will attempt to introduce a new perspective on the possible origin of the iconography on this amulet: Coptic magic charms.

Jewelry in the Middle East is not only used as personal adornment, but often carries a deeper meaning as well. Certain jewelry items feature often as amulet or talisman.  The colours and/or materials used attribute the jewelry item with special powers. In addition, certain types of jewelry were constructed with the sole purpose to protect the wearer and are therefore to be regarded as an amulet proper. One of the most intriguing categories consists of magical squares. These are a type of number amulets, in which the numbers are carefully arranged in order for each row, column and full diagonal to produce the same sum. Ideally, the square contains each number only once, but in some cases a repetition of the same number occurs.  In the Islamic world, these squares are known as waqf or aqwaf in the plural.