Life for the dessert nomad is exceedingly perilous; so it goes for the Tuareg people of the African Sahara. Faced with almost unbearable weather conditions, deadly tribal rivalries and malevolent supernatural forces, one can easily see how the Tuareg value items that are believed to bring about good fortune and well being. Highly religious and superstitious, they tend to carry small biblical verses and articles of luck on their person. Their amulets and lucky jewelry possessions are all inscribed with old ancestral Berber etchings and constructed in specific geometrical shapes that provide protection to the wearer. The eye of the chameleon is symbolized by circular engravings on Tuareg jewelry. The primary spherical design of the selection before you focuses on the chameleon motif and its charms. It is believed that the chameleon possesses magical powers. A common traditional practice is to slaughter a chameleon and bury it in the foundation of a new building as a protection against the 'evil eye', or bad luck. Wives who fear that their husbands may be straying often resort to the use of concealed chameleon meat or bones in their husband's food in the belief that this will restore his fidelity! Various positive medicinal effects are also attributed to dried chameleon flesh and opinion has little changed for centuries. This pendant was NOT mass produced in a factory outside of Africa like so many shamefully are today. This pendant was hand crafted, by our Tuareg jeweler, in the country of Niger.

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Dimensions: The pendant is 3 1/4 inches long x 2 1/2 inches wide. 

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