32 talismans · 7 traditions · 9 wishes
What should your talisman do?
Turn the dial to a wish and meet the talismans people have carried for it, from the blue glass eyes of the Aegean to the beckoning cats of Tokyo.
Talisman of the day
A talisman for today
Every day one talisman from our collection, with a question to carry through the day.
Nine wishes
Browse by meaning
People have always turned to symbols for the same few things. Each wish gathers the talismans that answer it.
Atlas
A world of talismans
From Newgrange to Kumasi, from Kyoto to the shores of Lake Superior: every point is a talisman at the place it comes from.
The collection
Eight to begin with
Through time
Five thousand years of talismans
Landmarks from the carved spirals of Newgrange to the first description of a dreamcatcher. Scroll sideways.
- Stone and Bronze Agesc. 3200 BCETriskeleTriple spirals are carved at Newgrange in Ireland
- c. 3000 BCEAnkhThe ankh sign appears in early Egyptian writing and art
- c. 2300 BCEEye of HorusWedjat eye amulets appear in Egyptian burials
- c. 2000 BCEScarabScarab amulets and seals spread across Egypt
- c. 1500 BCEEvil EyeEarly glass eye beads are made in Egypt and Mesopotamia
- c. 1325 BCEOuroborosTail-biting serpents encircle a figure on a shrine of Tutankhamun
- Antiquityc. 700 BCEOmOm is praised in the early Upanishads
- c. 500 BCEPentacleThe pentagram is linked to the Pythagoreans as a sign of health
- 221 BCEChinese Lucky CoinsQin unification makes the round coin with a square hole standard across China
- c. 190 BCELunulaThe Roman playwright Plautus mentions the lunula
- 79 CESator SquareSator squares are scratched on walls at Pompeii before the eruption
- Middle Agesc. 800 CETriquetraTriquetras decorate the Book of Kells
- c. 900 CEMjölnirThor's hammer pendants are worn across Viking Age Scandinavia
- 988 CEHorseshoeSaint Dunstan dies; later legend ties him to the lucky horseshoe
- 1348HamsaA hand is carved on the Gate of Justice at the Alhambra in Granada
- 1352Cowrie ShellIbn Battuta records cowries used as money in the Mali Empire
- Early modern1620Four-Leaf CloverSir John Melton writes that four-leaved grass brings good fortune
- Modern times1817SankofaThomas Bowdich collects an adinkra cloth in Kumasi
- 1852Maneki-nekoA beckoning cat appears in a woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige
- c. 1860VegvísirThe vegvísir is recorded in the Icelandic Huld manuscript
- 1929DreamcatcherFrances Densmore describes Ojibwe spider web charms
Tools
Try, make and play
Find a talisman that suits you, discover your birth talisman, design your own seal or test what you know.
- Talisman FinderSix questions, three talismans that suit you.
- Birth TalismanYour birthstone, sign, planetary metal and Chinese zodiac animal.
- Talisman MakerDesign your own seal with a symbol and an inscription.
- Daily TalismanDraw today’s talisman and a question for the day.
- Symbol QuizTen questions on talismans from around the world.
- GlossaryFrom amulet to wedjat, explained in a sentence.
Traditions
Seven traditions
- Ancient EgyptEyes, beetles and the sign of life, made in gold, stone and blue-green faience.
- Mediterranean and Near EastBlue glass eyes, protective hands, horns, moons and a word square from Pompeii.
- Northern EuropeSpirals and knots, woven crosses, lucky clover, horseshoes and Thor’s hammer.
- India and the HimalayaThe sacred sound Om, rudraksha beads and the endless knot.
- China and JapanCoins on red string, trigram mirrors, beckoning cats, shrine amulets and Daruma.
- West AfricaCowrie shells and the adinkra symbol that says: go back and fetch it.
- Americas and PacificOjibwe dreamcatchers, Mexican milagros and the unfurling Māori koru.
Guides
Know before you choose
- Talisman, Amulet or Charm? The Difference Explained
- A Short History of Talismans
- How to Choose a Talisman That Means Something to You
- Metals, Stones and Materials in Talismans
- Caring for Your Talisman: Cleaning, Storing and Old Customs
- Wearing Sacred and Cultural Symbols with Respect
- Talismans as Gifts: Meaningful Ideas for Every Occasion
Questions and answers
Good to know
What is a talisman?
A talisman is an object or sign that people believe brings something good: luck, love, protection or strength. The word is often used together with “amulet”, which traditionally keeps harm away, and “charm”, a small object worn for luck. Our guide to the difference explains more.
How do I find the right talisman?
Start with what you wish for. Turn the dial at the top of this page, take the six questions of the Talisman Finder, or look at the talismans of a tradition that means something to you.
Does taliaris sell talismans?
No. taliaris is an independent guide. We describe the history and meaning of talismans and the customs around them, and we do not sell objects or take commissions.
Do talismans work?
We describe what people believe and how talismans are used; we make no claim that an object has an effect. For many people a talisman is a reminder of a wish, a person or a culture, and that is meaning enough.