Shahmaran Amulet
The Shahmaran amulet carries the image of the serpent queen of Caucasian and Anatolian legend, a being with the head of a beautiful woman and the body of a serpent, who is said to have taught healing and the secrets of nature to those who dwelt in her underground kingdom. Silver and brass amulets, pendants, bracelets and wall plaques bearing her figure are worn or hung to turn away the evil eye and to bring luck and health, and her serpent-woman form appears on carpets, on jewellery and throughout the traditional story cycle of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran. The British Museum holds amulets of t