When a team of archaeologists in Turkey excavated the ruins of the ancient city of Sardis, they discovered some strange relics that seemed to have been placed there as part of a ritual for warding off evil.
Photo © Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/Harvard University
According to LiveScience, last summer the team came across a structure that the people of Sardis had built after a massive earthquake leveled and virtually buried the town in 17 A.D.
Photo © Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/Harvard University
Beneath the floors, they discovered two special pottery containers that held objects like eggshells, nails and coins, and historical accounts show eggs were used by many ancient cultures as charms to protect the occupants from demons and other dark forces. In this case, evil influences were believed to have caused the quakes, and the residents must have decided they weren't taking any chances after rebuilding.
Photo © Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/Harvard University
History also shows that these kinds of objects were also buried under houses to trap demons, or even to plant a curse on an enemy. According to the article, way creepier objects than rotting eggs have been used: ruins from an earlier era contained knives and the skeletons of sacrificial animals. Whether they truly repelled demons is anybody's guess, but it seems likely these rotting “charms” kept human visitors away for a while.