Ancient magical artifact (a bowl) depicting demons, ringed with Aramaic. Found in Iraq. From the University of Pennsylvania Museum *collection

To whet your appetite: According to scholar B. Barry Levy, the ancient magical artifact at the right “was prepared to protect Abuna bar Geribta and Ibba bar Zawithai from a series of evil forces. Its writer drew his power from the garment of Hermes and the Creator of heaven and earth. He threatened the destructive forces with the curses of the Leviathan and Sodom and Gemorrah.”