A rusty iron nail that can ward off vampires; a hideous “Jenglot” couple believed to be the shrunken husks of two mythical creatures which turned evil and are shunned by the netherworld (alam barzakh), leaving their souls earth-bound.

These are some of the items showcased in an exhibition themed “Mysterious World” (“Pameran Alam Misteri”) at Bastion House here, jointly organised by the Malacca Museums Corporation (Perzim) and Famewell Venture Sdn Bhd.

The 35 items, some of which are said to be thousands of years old, were collected from India, the Middle East, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.

Other items of interest include a skull used by witch doctors in central Java to summon spirits, the bones of a “mermaid”, and the purported remains of a “phoenix”.

Perzim curator Mahadi Arifin said the two-month exhibition, which opened last Sunday, was aimed at addressing the public’s “morbid fascination with the supernatural”.

“It is not to encourage their fascination, but to educate them on what makes them think an object or phenomenon is mysterious or supernatural by unravelling their so-called mystery.

“This exhibition is focused on what is regarded as mysterious in Malay culture, from the existence of pontianak (vampires) and Jenglot to jembalang (ghosts),” Mahadi said.

Entry costs RM3 for adults and RM1 for children and students. The exhibition is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9am to 5.30pm.