Ancient Egypt Magic Analysis
Geraldine Pinch states that magic in ancient Egypt was known as heka, and importantly was used to create the world by the creator god . Furthermore, she presents the fact that magic was also seen in the form of a deity named Heka, associated with the creator god Atum . This demonstrates that magic and religion were inextricably linked, magic power being a supernatural tool utilized by the deities of ancient Egypt. However, magic was certainly not only existing in the realm of the gods, and the Book of the Dead illustrates spells used to serve humans in the land of the dead. In a spell said to be bringing magic to the deceased, it is written "I am Atum-Khepri...I have collected this magic in every place where it was, from the possession of
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It is suggesting that even a messenger of a god may not take the man’s heart, as this magical incantation is to protect him from the threats and dangers on his pathway to the afterlife, which would be his ultimate goal. However there are numerous instances in which the spells do not ward off the gods but ask for their help, including a spell written to ward off a snake "O Rerek-sake, take yourself off, for Geb protects me" . It would be believed that announcing you are under the protection of a deity would hold significance and status, therefore protecting the speaker from harm out of fear that the attacker may anger the powerful …show more content…
Medicine could have been seen as enhancing magic, or vice versa, instead of existing independently. This combination of ideas may even be viewed as similar to our modern concept of a placebo, in which a patient thinks they are receiving a medical treatment that they are actually not receiving, and their health improves nonetheless. Perhaps the belief in magical spells for health acted in the same positive way for the ancient Egyptians, improving their health with belief instead of medicine or, as they believed, magic and their gods. This would support the idea that magic and the gods existed in some part to heal and assist the living or the recently dead. Thus we see magic used in ancient Egyptian life as well as in death as a means of protection through religious
It is suggesting that even a messenger of a god may not take the man’s heart, as this magical incantation is to protect him from the threats and dangers on his pathway to the afterlife, which would be his ultimate goal. However there are numerous instances in which the spells do not ward off the gods but ask for their help, including a spell written to ward off a snake "O Rerek-sake, take yourself off, for Geb protects me" . It would be believed that announcing you are under the protection of a deity would hold significance and status, therefore protecting the speaker from harm out of fear that the attacker may anger the powerful …show more content…
Medicine could have been seen as enhancing magic, or vice versa, instead of existing independently. This combination of ideas may even be viewed as similar to our modern concept of a placebo, in which a patient thinks they are receiving a medical treatment that they are actually not receiving, and their health improves nonetheless. Perhaps the belief in magical spells for health acted in the same positive way for the ancient Egyptians, improving their health with belief instead of medicine or, as they believed, magic and their gods. This would support the idea that magic and the gods existed in some part to heal and assist the living or the recently dead. Thus we see magic used in ancient Egyptian life as well as in death as a means of protection through religious