Egyptian magic: appearance, historical facts, spells and rites

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Many researchers believe that the history of magic began in Ancient Egypt. Its inhabitants have achieved impressive results in many areas of life, including witchcraft. Egyptian magic is also interesting for its close connection with religion. Rites and spells helped the inhabitants of the state not only to solve everyday problems. They also tried to communicate with the gods, to be charged with their power and to manipulate them.

Egyptian magic: appearance, essence

Scientists who are convinced that it is Ancient Egypt that is the birthplace of witchcraft have every reason to do so. Mysterious rituals, mysterious hieroglyphs, an abundance of pyramids and temples, the deification of the pharaohs - all this created a bewitching and enticing atmosphere. Egyptian magic originated as an integral element of religion and priesthood. It is impossible not to notice the close connection that existed between religious and witchcraft rituals. Many of them are hard to tell apart.

Magic appeared when people wanted to establish contact with the gods. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to establish even the approximate date of its occurrence. The essence of magic was a direct appeal to the divine pantheon. The Egyptians, unlike the Christians, called on their gods in the form of an order. With the help of rituals and spells, they sought to fulfill their own cherished desires, to prevent their fears from coming true.

Scholars still have different points of view about whether the magic of ancient Egypt was black or white. Many are convinced of the existence of both varieties. Black magic was considered to be that which had lost its original good message.

Priesthood

Magic was not available to mere mortals. Priests helped people establish contact with the gods, solve practical problems. The priesthood constituted the highest stratum of society. It organized and conducted ceremonies, supported the cult of the gods, and was the guardian of cultural values and ancient traditions. In their activities, the priests actively used sacred magic items. This privileged group of people were believed to know ancient secrets.

The magic of the Egyptian priests was used in various spheres of life. With its help, people were treated for diseases and protected themselves from them. The priests were approached by those who wanted to know their future or understand their destiny. With their help, people sent curses on their enemies. The interests of the priesthood also included ritual processes.

Spell to attract money

The inhabitants of Ancient Egypt attached great importance to we alth. Is it any wonder that some Egyptian magic spells were aimed specifically at attracting money. The patron saint of rich people Shai and the god of harvest Hapi were responsible for prosperity in the pantheon. The priests addressed them. The following spell to attract money was popular.

“I (my name) appeal to you, the god of fortune Shai and the god of fertility Hapi, with the power that the black earth and the deep Nile give me. May the waters of the Nile bring gold to my feet. Let it not become scarce, my we alth will increase. As a sacrifice to your fields, I bring the water of the Nile. Reward my family with prosperity.”

The priests took vessels filled with water and sat down between them. Then they moistened their fingers with water from different vessels, painted crowns on their foreheads. This was followed by the utterance of the above spell. After that, the vessels overturned, and the water flowed into the ground.

Spell

Egyptian religion and Egyptian magic also paid a lot of attention to love. The inhabitants of ancient Egypt believed in the ability to evoke feelings in another person through rituals and spells. All kinds of love drinks were very popular.

Excavations have unearthed a description of a spell dating back to around 1100 BC. In the text, the magician not only appeals to the gods, but also promises to destroy their temples if they do not fulfill it.desire.

"Greetings, father of the gods, Ra-Khorathi, greetings to you, Seven Hathors. Greetings, lords of earth and heaven. Let him, his son, follow me as a maid follows children, a shepherd follows his flock, and an ox follows his fodder. If you don't make him follow me, I'll burn Busiris with fire."

Rites

Often a rite was performed, the purpose of which was the expulsion of evil spirits. During his providence, the priests used amulets and talismans. Most often it was the protective symbol of Ouraeus, depicted in the form of a snake that wriggles on the forehead of the pharaoh. The ritual also used fumigating mixtures and incense, which were needed to prevent the exiled demon from returning.

Ceremonies for attracting he alth and healing were also popular. They were carried out with the help of magical signs. Mostly used "ankh" - a cross with a rounded tip.

Rites traditionally ended with sacrifices. The ancient Egyptians gave the earth wine, food, blood. Thus they glorified their gods. It was believed that the sacrifice enhance the magic of the Egyptian rite.

Historical facts

It was the Egyptians who were the first people to use amulets. They had no doubt that certain items could protect them from all dangers. Ancient Egyptian amulets depicted gods, animals, symbols. Bags were made from different materials. They were endowed with magical power by spoken spells. Each amulet had a specific purpose.

Ancient Egyptiansactively used both love potions and lapel drinks, with which it was possible to destroy someone's marriage. Some of the recipes that have survived to this day will seem crazy to modern people. For example, in one of the texts it is proposed to take apple seeds, barley and the blood of a bug that has bitten a black dog. All this must be mixed with the dandruff of a murdered person, as well as the blood of someone who wants to bewitch the object of his passion.

Black magic had a special place. For example, in ancient Egypt all kinds of curses were widespread. Each tomb contains a description of the horrors that await a person who dares to disturb the deceased pharaoh. It was possible to establish that once Pharaoh Akhenaten imposed a curse of memory on the god Amun-Ra. Akhenaten's descendants anathematized him as a punishment, abandoned his legacy.