Artefacts & Amulets

An exceedingly popular way to change one's own shape or the shape of others was by means of an amulet or artefact: some object enchanted to change the wearer or holder when worn or held, sometimes requiring a magical phrase to be invoked. Such items could be gifts bestowed by the gods, or wrought by dwarves or magic-users. One of the most famous was the tarnhelm of the teutonic legend of the Rhinegold. The wearer of this magical helm could assume any guise or shape he wished. Often, the nature of the item bore some relation to its function: a ring formed of woven horse-hair, suitably prepared, would transform the wearer into the image of the animal who had donated the hair. One of my favourite items has appeared in many a tale of old witch-craft: the Hag Halter. In 1669 in the town of Blocula in Sweden, a powerful coven transformed a large number of men into horses by the simple expedient of placing an enchanted rope halter over the victim's head as he slept. The newly created horse would then be under the power of the one who so enchanted him unless he could somehow contrive to rid himself of the halter and place it over the witch's head. An amusing story I once read concerned a young boy named Bill who found a magic button that would let him change into anything he wished. He caused great mischief in and around his village, changing into one animal after another. Finally he used it to become a horse, but when he tired of that he found he had lost the button, and was forced to remain a horse for the rest of his life. Don't you just love a story with a happy ending?

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