The amulet collection of Giuseppe Bellucci
Giuseppe Bellucci (1844-1921) was a professor of chemistry at the
University of Perugia, but he is mainly remembered as a paleo-ethnologist. He ammassed and catalogued a remarkable collection of about 3,000 amulets connected with magic and religious rituals for various protective purposes.The exhibition displays the most interesting and noteworthy items of the collection, mostly amulets that were still being used by working class people in central and southern Italy at the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
The first items exhibited were intended to provide protection against negative atmospheric condition: lightning, hail.
The amulets that follow are connected with the fundamental phases of human life: choosing a spouse, betrothal, marriage, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, puerperium and early
childhood.
The exhibition continues with amulets against the evil eye and with therapeutic amulets and objects, followed by amulets and objects that are associated with religious practices. Then there are good-luck amulets after which there is the important section reserved for amulets used by Italian soldiers during the First World War.