Occasionally, a charm or amulet that has enormous power and magic for one culture may have little meaning for another. Where the Egyptians attached great importance to the scarab, the Greeks might have seen only a species of desert beetle. Yet, every culture makes use of such talismans for protection and to bring good fortune. This unusual charm was carved by one of the early peoples of the Upper Euphrates Valley. It appears to depict some sort of animal, though exactly which one is unclear. Its abstract shape makes a strong appeal to modern sensiblities, while its ancient magic is no doubt still strong and powerful as ever.