Cimaruta (Cima di Ruta, Sprig of Rue, Rue Amulet)
Cimaruta, in Italian, means “Sprig of Rue,” and the rue amulet is one of Italy’s oldest cultural objects. The amulets, which are made of silver, depict a rue sprig with various small symbols in its branches, most commonly keys, crescent moons, daggers, stars, and flowers. The cimaruta of today is evolved from ancient Etruscan amulets; historical uses are as protective charms against malevolent magic, witchcraft, and the evil eye, especially for infants.
Ironically (perhaps intentionally so), the cimaruta has become associated with Strega (an Italian/Roman flavor of Wicca), and so-called Italian Traditional Witchcraft, which appears to be largely based on the works of Charles Geoffrey Leland, a nineteenth century folklorist who penned several volumes on Italian witchcraft, including Aradia (The “Gospel of the Witches”), purporting to be the gospel of a secret Dianic Roman witchcraft tradition.
