Hand of Glory: an ominous amulet - hello from past centuries (9 photos)
The ingenuity of ancient magicians and all sorts of warlocks the past is striking and even frightening. After all, they managed not only use unexpected things to create all sorts of artifacts, but also forced society to sincerely believe in their miraculous power. 
The Hand of Glory is one of them. The first mention of this terrible The contraption dates back to the 1600s. But only officially fixed. To create, you needed a brush (usually the left one) hanged murderer. 
The occult grimoires even preserved the exact recipes for making this terrible thing. For example, like this:
The hand must be cut off from the body of the hanged criminal, marinated in salt and urine of a man, woman, dog, horse and mare, then it must be smoked with herbs and hay for a month, hung on an oak for three nights in a row and then hang on the church door for one night. AND if during this time no fear drives you away, the hand will be yours. 
And like this:
Take the left or right hand of the criminal hanging in loop next to the road, wrap it in a piece of funeral shroud and press. Then place it in an earthen vessel with saltpeter, salt, zimat and long pepper and sprinkle well with powder. Leave in this vessel for 2 weeks, and then put in sunlight during the hottest days summer. If the sun is not so hot, then put the pot in the oven with fern and verbena. Then make candles from the fat of another outlaw, pure wax, sesame and pony and put the Hand of Glory as candlestick. 
Some researchers have lamented the fact that were able to unravel the meaning of two components - pony and zimat. But on in fact, this is wonderful, otherwise citizens with a not quite stable psyche they would rush one before the other to make gloomy amulets.
Tasks and functions 
So why was there so much trouble? Pen by beliefs turned out to be very useful. Subject to the selection of a suitable basis and by correctly performing the ritual, she acquired the ability to open any door, remove all bolts and locks, while leaving its owner invisible to prying eyes. In a word, a paradise for thieves and robbers. 
Researchers believe that the basis for the appearance of superstitions about the Hand Glory became myths about the mandrake, in the rhizome of which, when connected fantasy, you can see the human limb. And also magical the plant loved to grow near the gallows and feed on blood and energy of these mournful places. 
Remarkably, history even preserved descriptions of supposedly real use cases of such artifacts. For example, in the book 1873 "Curious Myths of the Middle Ages" is the story of a maid. During bad weather on the doorstep of an English county inn Northumberland appeared beggar. There was no place, but he was allowed spend the night by the fireplace next to the maid.
The woman woke up at night and saw how the guest took out folds of a cloak with a dry human hand, lit candles fixed between fingers, and quietly muttered some spell. And started calmly wander around the hall, putting more or less valuable things in a bag - dishes, candelabra and others.
The maid rushed to wake her master and other servants, but they slept soundly. Then she grabbed a jug of milk and splashed into her hand. The candles went out, and sleep paralysis fell from the inhabitants Houses. 
"Harry Potter" 
"Konstantin"
Such Hands are part of the expositions of several museums. AND each with its own sinister story. As culture became popular The Middle Ages also intensified interest in this artifact. His used in films, for example, Potter, games, books, and even making clothes. Fortunately, now it's only popularized symbol. Although, who knows, it is possible that for the impressed and impressionable, it can also become a guide to action.
