Potsherd

Potsherd
(POT-shard)
On the Greek island of Chios (see GREEK VAMPIRES), as well as in various places throughout Europe, a piece of pottery called a potsherd was buried with a person to prevent him from rising as an undead creature (see UNDEATH). Typically placed in the grave by a priest, the potsherd was inscribed with the phrase "IXNK" which means "Jesus Christ conquers." The Kashube people of Pomerania and western Prussia would place a potsherd into the mouth of their deceased in order to give them something to chew on in lieu of their burial shroud.
Source: Argenti, Folklore of Chios, 338; Barber, Vampires, Burial and Death, 47; Crawford, Antiquity, 502; Daniels, Encyclopedia of Superstitions, 812

Encyclopedia of vampire mythology . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Potsherd — Pot sherd , n. [Pot + sherd or shard.] A piece or fragment of a broken pot. Job ii. 8. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • potsherd — early 14c., from POT (Cf. pot) (1) + schoord, from O.E. sceard (see SHARD (Cf. shard)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • potsherd — [pät′shʉrd΄] n. [ME potschoord: see POT1 & SHARD] a piece of broken pottery, esp. one found as an archaeological artifact …   English World dictionary

  • potsherd — noun Etymology: Middle English pot sherd, from pot + sherd shard Date: 14th century a pottery fragment usually unearthed as an archaeological relic …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • potsherd — /pot sherrd /, n. a broken pottery fragment, esp. one of archaeological value. [1275 1325; ME; equiv. to pot POT1 + sherd, var. of SHARD] * * * …   Universalium

  • potsherd — noun A piece of ceramic from pottery, often found on an archaeological site …   Wiktionary

  • Potsherd —    A shred , i.e., anything severed, as a fragment of earthenware (Job 2:8; Prov. 26:23; Isa. 45:9) …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • potsherd — pot·sherd || pÉ‘tʃɜrd / pÉ’tʃɜːd n. piece of broken pottery (especially one found in an archaeological dig) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • potsherd —    see …   Glossary of Art Terms

  • potsherd — [ pɒtʃə:d] noun a piece of broken pottery. Origin ME: from pot1 and sherd, var. of shard …   English new terms dictionary

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