Amulet Atlas

Amulet AtlasWhere it goes

Half the meaning of a charm is its position. The same shape at the throat, in a pocket, over a door and in a grave is doing four different things, and the traditions say so themselves. Only about half the positions in this atlas are on a body at all.

head — 9hair — 3ear — 1neck — 113chest — 33upper-arm — 11wrist — 24finger — 10waist — 17skin — 10sewn-in — 15pocket — 58wallet — 8phone — 6door — 53lintel — 13roof — 15wall — 74foundation — 10hearth — 16shop — 24cradle — 18vehicle — 27boat — 2field — 6grave — 32swallowed — 6burnt — 4

Dot size is how many records this atlas has for that position. Click one to jump to its list.

On the body

At the neck (113)

the world's default position

On the chest, under the shirt (33)

On the wrist (24)

At the waist (17)

On the upper arm (11)

In the skin (10)

tattooed

On a finger (10)

On the head (9)

In the hair (3)

In the ear (1)

Carried, out of sight

In a pocket or a bag (58)

Sewn into clothing (15)

In a wallet (8)

On a phone (6)

Put somewhere and left

On a wall (74)

At the door (53)

In the grave (32)

most surviving ancient amulets are here because somebody was buried in them

In a vehicle (27)

At the till (24)

On a cradle (18)

At the hearth (16)

On the roof (15)

Above the lintel (13)

In the foundations (10)

In a field (6)

On a boat (2)

Taken into the body

Swallowed or drunk (6)

washed-off ink, dissolved paper

Burnt (4)

And what shape it takes

Pendant39Plaque or tablet17Figurine16Sewn packet or pouch13Folded paper11Scroll9Bead8Door or lintel piece7Medal6Box or reliquary5Coin5Bag4Cord or string4Garment4Knot4Tattoo4Mirror3Horn2Strung count2Bell1Bottle1Bowl1

Positions come from worn.json; the counts come from the records themselves, in matter.json. The figure, the house, the car and the boat are drawn for this atlas.

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