Dicest oF ANCIENT BELIEF 53 
serted also, that if the fish called the sea-star is smeared with fox’s 
blood, and then nailed to the upper lintel of the door, or to the 
door itself with a copper nail, no noxious spells will beable to 
obtain admittance, or at all events, to be productive of any ill 
effects.” —Ai/ey’s tr. 6: 10. 
Chapter 155 of the second book of the Euporista ascribed to 
Dioscorides is so good an example of the later superstitions re- 
garding amulets that I quote it entire, in Latin form. It probably 
illustrates well the superstitious use of Aster Atticus, and to the 
common plantain of which it speaks the name Aster had itself been 
sometimes transferred, by 400 A.D., either from this community 
of use or of properties or from the radially-outspread leaves. 
“Cap. CLV. Ad strumasamuleti ratione alligantur plantaginis 
radix, sinistra manu eruta et pelli illigata, lapathi agrestis radix eo- 
dem modo, uti et asphodeli radix, itemque eryngii. Pronuntiato 
vero prius eiusce nomine cujus gratia exquiritur, erui debet sub- 
vesperum, a vicesima octava luna usque ad tricesimam, itaque 
adalligari.” - 
Amulets in Modern Greece.—Similar beliefs regarding amulets 
(not to mention the horsechestnut and the bean carried in pocket, 
or the string tied round the arm, in America to-day) have a strong 
hold still upon the modern Greeks, as seen in the following ex- 
amples : 
‘A potato suspended in a bag to the person was recommended » 
as a prophylactic against rheumatism.’’—Fodd, 165. 
Garlic, ozépd0¢ in ancient and in modern Greek, is still “ highly 
relished and believed to have mysterious health-giving properties. 
It is also a sovereign prophylactic against the evil eye. The baby, 
or the pet goat, is quite safe against this evil who wears a kernel of 
_ garlic ina little bag tied around the neck.” . George Horton, on 
Modern Athens, Scribner's Magazine, Feb., 1901. 
‘‘ People in Greece often carry or wear an amulet, especially 
farmers and those in the country, and especially in old times, most 
of all about the time of the war of liberation and for the hun- 
dreds of years of fighting before that ; and many old songs that 
date from that time or earlier, praise the amulet which the warrior 
carried and which made him invincible against his enemy though 
Standing alone amid eighty shooting at him. Such an amulet is 
