The Vschizh amulet displayed in Bryansk Ethnography Museum was made in the XII or XII century. A part of the tusk was cut off to produce an even surface that was then polished. On this place an unknown artist made the engraving: ‘God, help thy servant Foma’. The inscription was made according to the ‘hard’ canon — a clear angular handwriting, with the letters having almost no protruding elements above and below. The remaining surface of the tusk was not treated, preserving its natural texture with lateral grooves.

The talisman from the ‘Bryansk Antiquities’ collection is a graphic example of Slavic dual belief system. After ancient Rus was baptized, many tribes worshipped Christ and pagan idols at the same time. Ancient symbols were getting a new meaning. For instance, lunula — the symbol of fertility — signified the Holy Virgin during the dual faith period, and slat talismans were associated not only with the gods of fire and sun, but also with Christ. The same happened with the boar tusk from Vschizh: a Christian prayer was inscribed on a pagan talisman.