Design and Make an Amulet for Today

In this activity, you will:

• Describe the role of amulets both in the ancient world and how they might be used today.
• Design and sculpt your own amulet.

• Multiple Parts

• Paper
• Colored pencils
• Aluminum foil
• Self-hardening clay (e.g., Crayola Model Magic)
• Sculpting tools
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Markers
• Ribbon or string

Look Closely at the Pendant

More than 2,600 years ago, a skilled artist carved a tiny ship from a chunk of golden amber resin. The ship has small holes carved into it so that it can be worn around the neck as a pendant. It was made by the Etruscans, a civilization that lived in central Italy (north of Rome) around 600 BCE. This pendant was an amulet and was supposed to bring good luck to the wearer.

There are several possible meanings for the pendant:

• A lucky charm to protect sailors from shipwrecks and stormy seas
• A symbol of a successful or especially dangerous voyage
• A sign of wealth and high social status (amber was rare and expensive)
• A reminder of famous sea voyages from mythology, like Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey
• A symbol for the journey of the soul after death; many amulets were buried with their owners

Plan Your Project

Spend a few minutes brainstorming and sketching. Ask yourself:

• What do I want my amulet to protect me from, or bring to me?
• List some shapes that might best represent that meaning. (Examples: a heart for love, an eye for awareness, a house for safety, a book for knowledge, an animal for strength or speed, a sports symbol for skill.)

Then, make a quick sketch of your amulet.

Create Your Amulet

Once you have an idea and a plan, follow these steps to bring it to life!

Build the Base Shape

• Tear off a piece of foil about 12 inches long.
• Crumple and squeeze it into the rough 3D shape of your amulet. Don’t worry about it being perfect, because this is just your base.
• Keep squeezing and reshaping until it looks like a simple version of your planned design. Think of it like rough-drafting a sculpture.

Add Details

• Tear small strips of foil or use clay to add features. Add eyes, wings, words, patterns, or any details that add to the meaning.
• Press details firmly onto the aluminum foil base so they stick.
• Think about texture: the Etruscan artist carved tiny human faces and a cabin onto the ship. What small details can you add that give your amulet more personality?
• If using markers or paint, wait until your shape is complete before adding color.

Make the Hanging Hole

• Use a pencil, skewer, or thin stick to carefully poke one hole near the top of your amulet. If your amulet is very big or wide, you might need to make two holes, one on each side, to help it balance when hanging. The ancient amulet had two holes because of its wide shape.
• Gently expand the hole, if needed, to ensure it is large enough for your string to pass through. Wiggle the pencil or skewer gently to widen it slightly.
• Thread your string, yarn, or ribbon through the hole and tie a knot so the amulet hangs securely.

Add Final Touches

• Step back and look at your amulet. Does it say what you want it to say?
• Add any final details, color, or texture.
• Give your amulet a name. This will go in your official label.

Write a Label for Your Amulet

Every object in a museum has a label. Museum labels tell us what an object is, when it was made, what it’s made of, and sometimes what scholars think it meant. Write an official-looking museum label for your amulet. Write it as if a museum visitor 2,000 years from now will read it.

Make sure your label includes all of the following information:

• Name of your amulet
• Artist’s name (That’s you!)
• Year it was made
• Materials (List every material that it includes.)
• Summary of what your amulet means (3-5 sentences). Include the following information: (1) amulet shape and what it represents to you; (2) what your amulet is meant to protect you from or bring you; (3) describe one specific detail on your amulet and explain what it means. (Example: “I added a small star near the top because stars help travelers find their way home.”)

A special piece of jewelry or object people wore to protect them from bad luck or danger.

A famous ancient Greek story-poem about hero Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan War. It was told orally for centuries and then written down by about 700 BCE. Attributed to the poet Homer.