Double moon pendant, for extra good luck

An amulet or talisman or fetish is an object believed to protect against danger, illness and misfortune. A distinction that is sometimes made is that an amulet wards off negative forces and that a talisman uses positive forces and can even work from a distance. Commonly used as amulets are: (precious) stones, coins, drawings, rings, religious objects (Eye of Horus, Christian cross, Buddha statue), plants (eg the four-leaf clover, see also repellent herb) and (parts of) animals. Even words are used as 'amulet'; the Latin "Vade retro, Satanas" or the Throne verse for example. Although the term refers to the same type of object, the emphasis with an amulet is more on protection and protection against danger. A talisman does the same but is derived from it and is also a good luck charm in the eyes of the users. The Cyranides is an anonymous encyclopedia of amulets dating from the 1st century BCE. Pliny the Elder describes amulets used for healing disease, relieving pain, or protecting against black magic in book 30 of his Naturalis Historia. In the 8th century Indiculus superstitionum et paganiarum, the use of amulets was frowned upon. The choice of rock crystal as a drinking glass or as part of medieval jewelry can be attributed to the belief that these crystals would break or discolor when exposed to poison. Thus, the chain became an amulet that protected the king.