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Aug. 28th, 2019 04:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
camwynGiven the sheer number of metaphysical properties applied to gemstones and the significance of various metals and whatnot, it's kind of refreshing to encounter an Old Jewelry Tradition that is cited in source after source as being totally secular and having no attributed mojo of any kind.
In this case it's a thing called a komboloi, which is a Greek worry bead thing. Apparently it evolved from various prayer-related concepts during the Ottoman occupation- I guess there was some kind of adaptation of Islamic prayer beads- but nobody attached any kind of spiritual, religious, or mental significance to them. It's a string of beads- a multiple of four, usually 16 or 20, plus one- usually strong on a silken cord and often made of amber, with both ends of the string fed into a 'shield' or 'priest' bead, with a tassel on the other end. They were mostly popular with older generations, but a couple of articles I found when researching the concept indicate that younger Greeks have taken up using their grandparents' komboloi in respectable numbers. I mean no insult to anyone when I say this, but as far as I can tell from the way and the circumstances in which these things are used, they seem to be the functional equivalent of the fidget spinner.
Like I said, amber's a popular component for these. It's supposed to feel nicest to the touch. I put together a basic one from some agate beads I had on hand that really aren't suited for anything necklace-wise, and I strung them on a length of hemp cord because it was all I had that fit the holes. The tassel is made from equal lengths of copper rolo chain. I like the sound it makes.
I didn't upload these to smugmug, just DW, so click on the small ones to see bigger versions.
Not sure how long the string will last, given it's hemp rather than silk, but if you're interested I can make one or get a better cord to make one for you. Disclosure: I have no known Greek ancestry, just Italian, but I did grow up in a neighborhood of New York so Greek that we didn't have hot dog stands- we had guys selling souvlaki on the corners instead. That said, I don't remember seeing these things in use, but then I didn't interact much with older Greek people as a kid.
In this case it's a thing called a komboloi, which is a Greek worry bead thing. Apparently it evolved from various prayer-related concepts during the Ottoman occupation- I guess there was some kind of adaptation of Islamic prayer beads- but nobody attached any kind of spiritual, religious, or mental significance to them. It's a string of beads- a multiple of four, usually 16 or 20, plus one- usually strong on a silken cord and often made of amber, with both ends of the string fed into a 'shield' or 'priest' bead, with a tassel on the other end. They were mostly popular with older generations, but a couple of articles I found when researching the concept indicate that younger Greeks have taken up using their grandparents' komboloi in respectable numbers. I mean no insult to anyone when I say this, but as far as I can tell from the way and the circumstances in which these things are used, they seem to be the functional equivalent of the fidget spinner.
Like I said, amber's a popular component for these. It's supposed to feel nicest to the touch. I put together a basic one from some agate beads I had on hand that really aren't suited for anything necklace-wise, and I strung them on a length of hemp cord because it was all I had that fit the holes. The tassel is made from equal lengths of copper rolo chain. I like the sound it makes.
I didn't upload these to smugmug, just DW, so click on the small ones to see bigger versions.
Not sure how long the string will last, given it's hemp rather than silk, but if you're interested I can make one or get a better cord to make one for you. Disclosure: I have no known Greek ancestry, just Italian, but I did grow up in a neighborhood of New York so Greek that we didn't have hot dog stands- we had guys selling souvlaki on the corners instead. That said, I don't remember seeing these things in use, but then I didn't interact much with older Greek people as a kid.
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