View source for Skandola

{{short description|Talismanic seal used by Mandaeans}}
[[File:Metal skandola - full view.jpg|thumb|right|A skandola made of steel]]
[[File:Mandaean skandola.gif|thumb|right|Drawing of the skandola]]
[[File:سكين اد دولا.jpg|thumb|right|Stylized artistic depiction of the skandola]]
{{Mandaeism}}
The '''skandola''' (also ''sakin dola'' or ''sakin ḏ-ula'',<ref name="Key Gelbert">{{cite book|first=Carlos|last=Gelbert|date=2023|title=The Key to All the Mysteries of Ginza Rba|location=Sydney|publisher=Living Water Books|isbn=9780648795414|page=612}}</ref> literally "dwelling of evil" in [[Mandaic language|Mandaic]]) is a ritual [[talisman]]ic [[seal (emblem)|seal]] used by [[Mandaeans]] to protect against evil.<ref name="auto2">{{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel Stefana|title=The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran|publisher=Oxford At The Clarendon Press|year=1937}}</ref>{{rp|37}}
==Description==
The skandola is an iron ring with a chain attached to an iron knife. It is used as a sacred [[talisman]]ic seal. It is used to seal graves and also newborn babies on their navels. During [[qabin|wedding ceremonies]], a priest gives the skandola to the bridegroom. There are incised depictions of the following animals:<ref name="auto2"/>
*Lion, representing [[Krun]]
*Scorpion, representing [[Hag and Mag|Hag]]
*Black snake or [[serpents in the Bible|serpent]], representing [[Ur (Mandaeism)|Ur]]
*Wasp or hornet
[[E. S. Drower]] notes parallels with [[Mithraism|Mithraic]] [[bas-relief]]s, [[Yazidism]], [[Persian art|Iranian artistic symbols]], and others. A [[Mandaean priest]] told Drower that the skandola was originally brought by [[Hibil Ziwa]] from the [[World of Darkness (Mandaeism)|World of Darkness]] as he was taking [[Ruha]] along with him (a narrative found in Book 5, Chapter 1 of the ''[[Right Ginza]]''<ref name="GR Gelbert">{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}</ref>).<ref name="auto2"/>
==See also==
{{Commons category|Skandola}}
*[[Talisman]]
*[[Hamsa]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Mandaeism footer}}
[[Category:Mandaean religious objects]]
[[Category:Mandaic words and phrases]]
[[Category:Seals (insignia)]]
[[Category:Talismans]]
[[Category:Objects believed to protect from evil]]
[[Category:Demons in Mandaeism|*]]
[[Category:Snakes in religion]]
[[Category:Lions in religion]]
[[Category:Insects in religion]]