[Ella-cross, a Scanian amulet].
An Ella-cross is an amulet of a special type dated back to the period of the late 1700s to the early 1800s, stemming from the Scania region in Sweden, the southernmost part of the country. It has not before been studied systematically. The investigation reported here concerned 125 crosses of this type, most of them from various institutions in Scania. The amulets are for the most part quite similar in appearance, consisting of a thin round silver plate 2 - 4 centimeters in diameter on which a cross with four arms of equal length, usually of the anchor type, is engraved, together with a Jesus monogram (IHS and I.N.R.I.) and a plea for "help", lettered in the spelling of the time. An Ella-cross was worn under one's clothing in direct contact with the skin throughout one's life, following its wearer into the grave. It was to protect one from Ellen's diseases (caused by the Neck, an evil water spirit) and also from misfortune and evil.
Björnberg
Alf
A
Hudkliniken, Universitetssjukhuset, 221 85 Lund. Eva.Tegner@med.lu.se
Tegner
Eva
E
D001154:Art / Q000266:history*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000266:history*; D013548:Sweden