#14: Magic in Ancient Egypt [40:43]
Episode 14: Magic in Ancient EgyptThe life of a magician in Ancient Egypt was tough. He had to get up early in the morning, wash, shave every hair from his body, pick up his magician's toolbox and go to work. Both the poor and the wealthy required his services: staving off evil warlocks, prescribing remedies to common illnesses, carving amulets and talismans, and providing enough mojo to the dearly departed to last them an eternity in the afterlife.
More than pyramids and mummies, Ancient Egypt was an intricately structured society where magicians had a prominent position. The magicians were called "scribes of the house of life" and had to undergo long training before they could practice their art. Often serving part-time as priests at a temple, these highly educated men were approachable intermediaries between the physical world and the supernatural.
In this episode, we explore some of the documented tricks of the Ancient Egyptian magician's trade and find some interesting parallels with today's western occultism. We also challenge some common perceptions about what the Egyptian amulets and talismans were used for.
Some useful links:
- Ancient Egyptian Magic article by Dr Geraldine Pinch [bbc.co.uk]
This article includes great photos of some of the objects we discuss in the episode. - Ancient Egyptian Magic by Bob Brier [amazon.com]
A great book covering all of the magician's trade. It also includes many examples of actual spells. - Bob Brier's audio lectures at the Teaching Company [teach12.com]
These lectures are extremely intriguing and cover the entire history of Ancient Egypt and more. - Talking Pyramids
Great Egyptology blog, updated daily! - Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead [amazon.com]
R. Faulkner's translation is among the better ones out there. - Pyramid Texts Online
Downloadable faximilies of ancient Egyptian texts with free translations
Click to listen to this episode:
Download | Duration: 00:40:43
Posted by Chasing Hermes at December 15, 2009 
Categories: Podcast Episodes
Tags: amulet lotus ancient ra djed mummy isis scribe scarab wand magician egypt temple osiris magic Egyptian thoth
Categories: Podcast Episodes
Tags: amulet lotus ancient ra djed mummy isis scribe scarab wand magician egypt temple osiris magic Egyptian thoth
That was very interesting and entertaining. Poking around on wikipedia led to some info distinguishing the rod of Aesclepius and the Caduceus - which get interchangeably used as medical symbols, though technically the caduceus is a symbol of Hermes, and not relevant to medicine... not sure if that's the whole story, but it seemed like an interesting twist.
Also interesting the parading of the gods outside of the temples - not perhaps too different from the parading of the Virgin through the streets in Catholic countries or even in towns I've lived in in NJ and NY; perhaps a common human ritual, or perhaps some ancient influence?
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Hi! Asclepius was to many the god of healing and there were several healing centers called Asclepeions in the ancient world. There is an entire episode of The Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean Podcast dedicated to the Asclepeion. Recommended listening!
I make the same association as you do between the parading of the Egyptian god and the many modern Christian fiestas of saints and relics. In many catholic countries the Corpus Christi festival still involves a parade where the host is carried through the city - there are certainly similarities with the ancient Egyptian practice.
Thanks for listening!
/Jason
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Wow! That was fantastic. I am now off to hear Bob Brier's work. Thanks a lot guys.
-Red
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Great! You won't regret it!
/Jason
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If anyone is interested, I found a great article/mp3 of Jeremy Naydler’s work entitled Ancient Egypt and Modern Esotericism. The article is off of the rosicrucian.org
website and can be found at:
http://www.rosicrucian.org/publications/digest/digest1_2007/table_of_contents.html#
-Red
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Red,
thank you very much for sharing this link. I enjoyed reading that article and also the one entitled "The Initiatory Process in Ancient Egypt". That article also turned me on to some books I want to order. Great stuff, I will add this page to my list of favorites...
/Jason
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Great podcasts, guys! I really love your discussions. I was listening to 'magic in ancient egypt' and was thinking that Joseph Campbell might be another author that might be relevant to the treatment of spiritual scripture as myth ... see also "The Power of Myth" (interview between Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell).
Again, thanks for the insights and thoughtfood
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Being born and raised in Africa, I support the idea that magic was regarded as normal as having a cellphone or mp3 player for us these days. While my ancestors were hunting or fishing for their families there also was wild animals which were doing the exact same thing. I mean hunting for they Lion/Leopard/Crocodile families, was the man (hunter) or the wild beast that was going to be on the dinner menu of the other. So, magic or occult knowledge and power was crucial to their lives...
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Who are the coupons?
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Superior thinking demonstrated above. Tanhks!
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