*** Welcome to piglix ***

Worry beads


Worry beads or kombolói, kompoloi (Greek: κομπολόι, IPA: [ko(m)boˈloj], bead collection; plural: κομπολόγια, IPA: [ko(m)boˈloʝa]) is a string of beads manipulated with one or two hands and used to pass time in Greek and Cypriot culture. Unlike the similar prayer beads used in many religious traditions, worry beads have no religious or ceremonial purpose.

Modern Greek κομπολόι is derived from κομβολόγιον < κόμβος "knot" + -λόγιο "collection". It is sometimes said that it is short for the phrase σε κάθε κόμπο προσευχή λέω, "in every knot I say a prayer"- κόμπο "knot"-λέω "say" > κόμπο-λέω > κομπολόι. This etymology accounts for the fact that κομπολόι evolved from κομποσκοίνι, the Greek word for prayer rope.

Worry beads have several uses in Greek culture, including:

Many prominent Greeks were users and collectors of worry beads, including Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and business magnate Aristotle Onassis.

Worry beads may be constructed from any type of bead, although amber, amber resin (such as faturan), and coral are preferred, as they are thought to be more pleasant to handle than non-organic materials such as metal or minerals.

Greek worry beads generally have an odd number of beads (often one more than a multiple of four, e.g. (4x4)+1, (5x4)+1, and so on, or a prime number, (usually 17, 19 or 23) and usually have a head composed of a fixed bead (παπάς "priest"), a shield (θυρεός) to separate the two threads and help the beads to flow freely, and a tassel (φούντα). Usually the length of worry beads is approximately two palm widths.


...
Wikipedia

...