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 relationship with religion. Rituals and spells helped the residents of the state not only solve everyday tasks. They also tried to communicate with the gods, recharge their power and manipulate them.
Egyptian magic: appearance, essence
Scientists who are convinced that it is Ancient Egypt that is the birthplace of witchcraft has every reason for this. 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 was born 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 difficult to distinguish from each other.
Magic appeared when people wanted to make contact with the gods. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to establish even an approximate date of its occurrence. The essence of magic was a direct appeal to the divine pantheon. The Egyptians, unlike Christians, appealed to their gods in an orderly form. With the help of rituals and spells, they sought to fulfill their own cherished desires, not to allow fears to come true.
Scientists still hold different points of view about whether the magic of Ancient Egypt was black or white. Many are convinced of the existence of both types. Black was considered the magic that lost its original good promise.
Priesthood
To mere mortals, magic was not available. The priests helped people to establish contacts with the gods and solve practical problems. Priesthood constituted the highest stratum of society. It was engaged in organizing and conducting ceremonies, supported the cult of the gods, and was the guardian of cultural values and ancient traditions. In their activities, priests actively used sacred magic items. It was believed that this privileged group of people knew ancient secrets.
The magic of Egyptian priests was applied in various areas of life. With its help, people were treated for diseases and protected 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 priesthood’s interests also included ritual processes.
Money Spell
The inhabitants of ancient Egypt attached great importance to monetary wealth. Is it any wonder that some Egyptian magic spells were aimed specifically at attracting money. For wealth in the pantheon, the patron saint of the wealthy people of Shai and the god of the Hapi harvest were responsible. They were addressed by priests. The following money-raising spell was popular.
“I (my name) appeal to you, the god of luck, Shai, and the god of fertility, Hapi, with the power that gives me the black earth and the deep-sea Nile. May the waters of the Nile beat gold at my feet. May it not be impoverished, my wealth will increase. I offer the water of the Nile as a sacrifice to your fields. Reward my family with prosperity. ”
Priests took vessels filled with water, seated between them. Then they wet their fingers with water from different vessels, draw crowns on their foreheads. This was followed by the casting of the above spell. After that, the vessels capsized, and water flowed into the ground.
Love spell
Egyptian religion and Egyptian magic paid much attention to love. The inhabitants of ancient Egypt believed in the possibility of evoking feelings in another person through rituals and spells. All kinds of love drinks were very popular.
Excavations revealed a description of the spell dating back to about 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 his desire.
“I salute you, father of the gods, Ra-Horatha, I salute you, Seven Hathors. Greetings, lords of the earth and heaven. May he, his son, follow me like a maid after children, a shepherd after a herd, and a bull after forage. If you do not force him to follow me, I will burn the fire of Busiris. "
Ceremonies
Often a ceremony was held, the purpose of which was the expulsion of evil spirits. During his providence, priests used amulets and talismans. Most often it was a protective symbol of Urey, depicted in the form of a snake, which coils on the forehead of the pharaoh. The ritual also used fumigant mixtures and incense, which were needed so that the exiled demon would not return.
Also popular were rituals to attract health and healing. They were carried out using magic signs. Basically, ankh was used - 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 sacrifice reinforce 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 objects were able to protect them from all dangers. Ancient Egyptian charms depicted gods, animals, symbols. The gizmos were made from different materials. The spells cast them magic power. Each amulet had a specific purpose.
The ancient Egyptians actively used both love potions and lapel drinks, with the help of which it was possible to destroy someone's marriage. Some recipes that have come down to our days, modern people seem crazy. Say, in one of the texts it is proposed to take apple grains, barley and the blood of a bug that has bitten a black dog. All this must be mixed with the dandruff of the murdered person, as well as the blood of one who wants to bewitch the object of his passion.
Black magic was given 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 dared to disturb the deceased pharaoh. It was possible to establish that once Pharaoh Akhenaten imposed a memory curse on the god Amon-Ra. The descendants of Akhenaten punished him with anathema and renounced his legacy.