Life in a world of magic
“However, Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and the magic-practicing priests of Egypt also did the same thing with their magic.Exodus 7:11 (Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY, 2013)“
The Ancient Egyptians lived in a world filled with magic. There were spirits and demons around every corner. Magic was one way for them to operate in their world, to make sense of their world, and to control it. For an Ancient Egyptian Magic could have been used to defend an individual of the state, heal and restore when sick, seek retribution when wronged, cultivate passion when you had an unrequited love, and obtain wealth if you so desired. (Gill, 2003/2004). It was even used in an assassination of the pharaoh Ramses III.
It is tempting to think that the magic the Ancient Egyptians had and used is similar to our idea of magic, that it was an alternative to mainstream belief, on the fringe of society, but it wasn’t. But the concept of magic as non-establishment, or as an alternative to the universally accepted religious tradition, needs to rejected (Oakes & Gahlin, 2002/2006). In ancient Egypt, there was no difference between religion and magic (Fletcher, 2002/2009). The ancient Egyptians lived in a world that they believed was ruled over by distant gods but populated by regional gods and demons, who had to be appeased and sometimes placated (Gill, 2003/2004).
The Ancient Egyptian word that we would translate as magic was heka. For an Ancient Egyptian, the term Heka carried the idea of the catalyst or energy that made creation possible (Oakes & Gahlin, 2002/2006). Because heka was connected to the power of creation, each time magical rituals were enacted in the temple, it was thought to develop further the process of creation (Oakes & Gahlin, 2002/2006). In reality, magic cannot be isolated from religion in Ancient Egypt, as it encompassed the concepts of universal creative energy and divine power (Berton et al., 2005). unlike terms and ideas like Ma’at Heka wasn’t considered to be good or bad, it was energy or power; it could be channeled in any direction – for a useful purpose or a bad one (Oakes & Gahlin, 2002/2006).
Magic or heka played a fundamental role in protecting the dead during their journey from the tomb to the Fields of Iaru (Gill, 2003/2004). The tombs of Pharaohs and those who could afford one would be covered in magical spells to help the dead owner. Examples of spells used to get to the afterlife can are found in the 5th dynasty tomb of the pharaoh Unas. His tomb is decorated with the “Pyramid Texts.” The texts were the forerunner of what is known as “books of what is in the hereafter” (Gill, 2003/2004).
Magic (or Heka) confined only to the world of the temples, priests, and Gods. It was also in the mundane, the prosaic nature of everyday life the Egyptians held a conviction that this life’s horrors could be overcome by interacting with the gods who resolved their problems — even simple things like a headache. Osiris, Isis, and Horus were by far the most common for alleviating personal maladies (Davies & Friedman, 1998).
Everyday items like furniture or tools frequently incorporated deities in the design for protection. Small statues, amulets, wands, and protective charms were copious.
The average Egyptian did not have access to the magic in the temple or those who worked in the temple; however, the village had several people able to help others.
These people would craft spells and rituals, give interpretations for dreams, by employing magic on their behalf. Some of these people included midwives, doctors, or talisman manufacturers (Berton et al., 2005).
At home, they practiced smaller-scale rituals. Domestic magic often included the assistance of both gods and the spirits of the ancestors (Fletcher, 2002/2009).
In review, magic was a home-based religion. Even though magic spells were given to professionals, like doctors, they had to make clear a lot of information that, in the case of temple and tomb cult, was essential to the rite. The Egyptians used magic a lot in their everyday lives, but it was mostly used to help the dead.
Assmann, J., 2003. The mind of Egypt. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press
Berton, M., Doig, F., Edwards, A., & Etteridge, C. (Eds.). (2005). Egypt – Land and lives of the pharaohs revealed. Global Book Pub. Explores every facet of Egypt’s geography, society, history, and culture to build up an intriguing image of what life was like in the land of the pharaohs.
Davies, V., & Friedman, R. (1998). Egypt. British Museum Press.Provides a general history and understanding of Ancient Egyptian history and society.
Fletcher, J. (2009). The Egyptian Book of Living & Dying. Duncan Baird. (Original work published 2002)A guide to Ancient Egyptian wisdom with a focus on the spiritual belief of the Egyptians.
Gill, A. (2004). Ancient Egyptians – the kingdom of the pharaohs brought to life. HaperCollins Entertainment. (Original work published 2003)A book that talks about the real life experience of the Ancient Egyptians by using first hand accounts.
Oakes, L., & Gahlin, L. (2006). Ancient Egypt (pp. 440–443). Hermes House. (Original work published 2002)A general encyclopaedia of the life and history of Ancient Egypt.
Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY. (2013). Wol.Jw.Org; Watchtower and Bible Tract Society. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070106/1696
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