Roman mano fico-amulet, silvered bronze

Product description

This small pendant in the shape of a hand with the thumb between the index and middle fingers - the so-called mano fico or fig gesture - is modeled after a Roman amulet which is today kept in the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. The original was made of red coral.

In ancient Rome, the fig gesture was a widespread fertility and good luck symbol, and was used as amulet used to ward off the evil eye. In ancient times, the fig was considered, in addition to the grape, an attribute of the fertility god Dionysos/Bacchus. The gesture was also known to the Germanic people, and is still considered a good luck charm in Italy, Portugal and Brazil - newborns in those regions have been given such an amulet for centuries to keep evil at bay.

A small-scale but meaningful one amulet for those who want to portray Roman culture.