It first examines the possibility that a precedent for the Seal series exists in an undecipherable “seven signs repeated seven times” inscribed on a Late Babylonian amulet. The present survey focuses on potential sources for the symbols rather than on their exegesis. Hans Winkler in 1930, a wider-ranging and more modern review is long overdue. As this topic was first – and last – examined systematically by Dr. While many Seal symbols make sporadic appearances in early Islamic amulets bearing Kufic script, the source of the symbols and their eventual ordering remains a matter of legend. The Seven Seals of medieval Islamic magic, which are believed to constitute the Greatest Name of God, also feature in Jewish Kabbalah from the same period. The most extreme similarities occur in the small subset of Tuareg and Ethiopian rings that carry complete sets of the Islamic Seven Seals. As one might expect from this makeup, there is a significant overlap with the symbol repertoire of Tuareg rings. Most Ethiopian rings combine numerical and non-numerical symbols, and reflections and rotations of characters are common. The Ethiopian symbol repertoire appears to be drawn from Eastern Arabic and possibly Devanagari numbers Arabic letters the Islamic Seven Seals and unique symbols that resist identification. For either material, the symbols are typically arranged evenly around the ring band there are usually two circular series, and sometimes the symbols of the upper circle are a reflection (through the ring’s equator) of those in the lower. Being softer, silver rings may instead bear symbols incised by scratching or engraving. The former are just convex circular bands of hard alloy into which glyphs are stamped using simple punch tools. In Ethiopia, especially among the Oromo in the southwestern highland district of Jimma, smiths inscribe white-metal or silver rings with talismanic symbols. Cryptic apotropaic rings are also found in East Africa. ![]() A distinct set of rings also carry Tifinagh-based magic squares recently-made items of this type may be “Tifinagh alphabet” souvenirs made for tourists. Tuareg gri gri plaques also carry magic square designs, but seem to contain mainly Tifinagh letters. ![]() With numerical considerations seemingly secondary to aesthetics, none of the magic squares were mathematically competent. No two designs were identical, but it was possible to define sub-groups based on style and content. The magic squares sometimes display complete or partial symmetry, with diagonals containing repeats of a single symbol. Most items combine symbols of different types, and reflections and rotations of stock symbols are common. A survey of 132 Tuareg/Berber items revealed that the symbol repertoire appears to be drawn from overlapping categories that include Eastern Arabic and Perso-Arabic numerals, and possibly Western digits and Indian Devanagari numbers as well Arabic letters Tifinagh and Libyco-Berber characters and the Islamic Seven Seals (the ism al-aʿzam or Greatest Name). A ring with a curved or flat frontal area may be inscribed with a linear cipher or, if large, carry a “magic square” design. In West Africa, Berber groups such as the Tuareg of Mali and Niger use inscribed silver jewelry – rings, pendants and plaques – as talismans.
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