Placed in the oddest, and most
hidden locations, in order for their power to work properly, witch bottles have
been a favorite method of personal protection for centuries.
Examples as early as the 17th
century have been found in England
and the Americas
Pellars were employed by
someone who felt they were under the influence of spiteful or evil spirits. The
witch bottle was created by the cunning
person specifically for the client. The
purpose was simple; protection of the client and the demise of the
attacker.
The size of a witch bottle can vary. As large as 12 inches or as wee as 2
inches. Although they can be made of any material, stoneware
is the most common. Traditionally called
'Greybeards or Bellarmine stone salt-glazed jugs' they measured approx. 9 inches
tall and were decorated with an embossed bearded face.
Bellarmines take their name from a particularly fearsome Catholic Inquisitor, Robert Bellarmine, who persecuted Protestants. He was labeled as a demon by his victims. Today many original jugs may be seen in museums.
Bellarmines take their name from a particularly fearsome Catholic Inquisitor, Robert Bellarmine, who persecuted Protestants. He was labeled as a demon by his victims. Today many original jugs may be seen in museums.
What went into a witch bottle was usually quite simple. The client's urine, hair, nail clippings were
common ingredients. If the victim happened to be a woman of child bearing years menstrual blood was included in the mix. Ash from the victim's hearth was
most times very important to include since many attacker's spirits found their way into the victim's home
through the chimney.
The protection housed in the bottle remained active, provided the
bottle remained hidden and unbroken.
How did it work?
The essence of things belonging to the victim would attract the
evil spirit into the bottle, where it would slide down inside the bottle via
the opening, and the neck being narrow trapped it from escaping. The spirit
would either drown in the urine and/or be impaled on the sharp objects.
Simple enough.
Some bottles were filled with the above ingredients or herbs and
liquids, such as rosemary and wine, to represent the particular qualities of
protection were used instead. Both can, and
usually do, include bent pins and possibly knotted threads. The bottle was placed in the fire on the hearth; when the bottle exploded, the spell was broken and consequently the attacker not just their spirit, could be killed. If nothing else, the one inflicting the damage would get the message.
