Research Paper
MK778
ARS498finalpresentation.pptxMagic in ancient Egypt
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Introduction to ancient Egyptian magic
- Magic was the harnessing of the powers of natural laws, conceived of as supernatural entities, in order to achieve a certain goal.
- Magic was present in one's conception, birth, life, death, and afterlife and was represented by a god who was older than creation: Heka
- The most respected users of magic were
the lector priests
- magic was seen primarily as a way for
humans to prevent or overcome
negative events
God of magic “Heka”
“Heka” the magic and medicine god in ancient Egypt.
the Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts depict heka as a supernatural energy that the gods possess.
By the Coffin Texts, Heka is said to be created at the beginning of time by the creator Atum ( the creator god)
Heka had no cult following, no ritual worship, and no temples (except in the Late Period of Ancient Egypt)
He was depicted in anthropomorphic form as a man in royal dress wearing the regal curved beard of the gods and carrying a staff entwined with two serpents
He is frequently seen in funerary texts and inscriptions guiding the soul of the deceased to the afterlife and is often mentioned in medical texts and spells.
Engraving of Heka at Esna Temple
Symbols of magic
Represent the word of life and a symbol of life itself.
Unknown original
Cross shape with oval loop in the top
The ankh was used as an emblem and appears as one of the most powerful cultural and religious symbols of Pharaonic Egypt
The Loop of the Ankh represented the feminine discipline or the (Womb), while the elongated section represented the masculine discipline or the (Penis).These two sacred units then come together and form life.
It was the symbol of eternal life and bestowed immortality on anyone who possessed it.
Gods and Pharaohs were often depicted as carrying ankh signs.
It was usually worn as an amulet to extent the life of living, and placed on the mummy to energize the resurrected soul
The amulet was a powerful talisman that provided the wearer with protection from the evil forces of decay and degeneration.
This symbols appears widely in writing, paintings, ankh-shaped objects such mirrors or mirror-cases.
The ankh was popular throughout Egyptian history and due to its cruciform shape remained so into the Coptic period
Ankh - symbol of life
Eye of Horus - Sign for Healing
A powerful symbol used to protect from evil, the ancient name for the Eye of Horus was "udjat”
Horus lost his left eye in his war with Seth, who tore the eye into pieces.
The left eye, being the moon was discovered by Thoth lying in pieces, but he was able to reassemble them into the full moon.
This healing of the eye became a symbol of renewal of health Horus gave the reassembled eye to his murdered father Osiris, thereby bringing him back to life.
Egyptians believed that the Eye of Horus was capable of healing sickness and capable of bringing the dead to life, as it did with Osiris
The Egyptians used the eye as a funerary amulet for protection against evil and rebirth in the underworld, and decorated mummies, coffins and tombs with it.
The Book of the Dead instructs that funerary eye amulets be made out of lapis lazuli or gold
The modern 'Rx' symbol which is used by pharmacies and in medicine has its origins in the Eye of Horus.
Collection of amulets in the British Museum
Faience vessel, Bes holding Eyes
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Cartouche - Royal Encircling Protection
The Good Luck Charm of the Egyptian civilization, the ancient name for the cartouche was "shenu”
It was worn only by the Pharaohs, and represented the Pharaohs' insignia.
Both the king's Praenomen (throne name), and his Nomen (birth name), were written within cartouches. These two names the most important royal titles, and the two cartouche names always appeared with emblematic use and formal inscriptions.
The "Magical Oval" in which the Pharaoh's first name was written was intended to protect him from evil spirits both while he lived and in the afterworld
In the New Kingdom, royal sarcophagi were made in the shape of the cartouche. The entire burial chamber of Thutmose 3 was in the this shape.
Ancient Egyptian cartouche of Thutmose III, Karnak, Egypt
Magic and medicine
The Papyrus Scrolls
Edwin Smith Papyrus
Dated to circa 1600 BCE
the only surviving copy of part of an Ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery.
takes its name from the Egyptian archaeologist Edwin Smith, who purchased it in the 1860s
Written in the hieratic script of the ancient Egyptian language
The document consists of 22 pages (17 pages on the recto, and 5 pages on the verso). 48 cases of trauma.
Ebers Papyrus
takes its name from Georg Ebers who purchased the papyrus in 1872.
The papyrus dates to around 1550BC
covers 110 pages, making it the lengthiest of the medical papyri.
The papyrus covers many different topics including; dermatology, digestive diseases, traumatic diseases, dentistry and gynecological conditions.
