Amulets with Inscriptions and «Magic Squares» at the Golden Horde Settlements

We will talk about one rare type of finds at the Golden Horde settlements in this work. These are amulets with a «magic square» on one side and an Arabic inscription on the other. The «magic square» on such amulets is a square of the third order. It reflects Sufi magical ideas and a spirit communication by numeric and alphabetic ciphering. The second side of the amulets contains inscriptions associated with the «square» on the back. Amulets bear two inscriptions. Variants of translation are offered for each of them. As for their content they were protective prayers-dua. These finds at the settlements are connected with spread of Sufism in the cities of Golden Horde.

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Publication Details

Journal
Povolzhskaya Arkheologiya (The Volga River Region Archaeology)
Published
2025-06-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.24852/pa2025.2.52.46.53
Primary Topic
Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Amulets with Inscriptions and «Magic Squares» at the Golden Horde Settlements

Irina Yu. Lapshina, Andrey Lapshin
Povolzhskaya Arkheologiya (The Volga River Region Archaeology)
Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies
article

Amulets with Inscriptions and «Magic Squares» at the Golden Horde Settlements

Irina Yu. Lapshina, Andrey Lapshin
article en

Abstract

We will talk about one rare type of finds at the Golden Horde settlements in this work. These are amulets with a «magic square» on one side and an Arabic inscription on the other. The «magic square» on such amulets is a square of the third order. It reflects Sufi magical ideas and a spirit communication by numeric and alphabetic ciphering. The second side of the amulets contains inscriptions associated with the «square» on the back. Amulets bear two inscriptions. Variants of translation are offered for each of them. As for their content they were protective prayers-dua. These finds at the settlements are connected with spread of Sufism in the cities of Golden Horde.

Povolzhskaya Arkheologiya (The Volga River Region Archaeology)Vol. 2(52)
Openalex Percentile: Top 81%
Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies
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