The practice of magic in ancient Egypt
Different types of magical ideas and miracles are an integral part of almost all religions in the world. As can be seen from the ancient religious tradition, magic was one of the most common things in the world. Even the gods associated with magic are sometimes referred to as the guides of the spirits.
Heka, the god of magic
To the world today, Egypt is a land of magic and mystery. It widely used the word ‘heka’ in ancient Egypt. However, the definition of magic that we understand from ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Lord of the Rings, or ‘Game of Thrones, is divided into Hexa with its features, elements, and practical aspects. The magic forbidden in today’s society, its journey in ancient Egypt began after the Roman rule in Egypt. The use of anti-social or unacceptable magic was widespread among non-Egyptians. According to Egyptian theorist James Henry Breasted, “magic, like sleeping or eating, was a daily occurrence in ancient Egypt.”
Although the god Heka is known from pre-Egyptian dynasties, his practice developed during the early dynasties. He took such an important place in the life of every Egyptian that there was no separate temple, religious or formal worship for him. There are numerous examples of hackers in ancient pyramid texts and pre-medieval coffins. According to the scripture found in the coffin, the god Heka claimed to be a primitive and ancient force. According to him, “I lived in this universe before the gods were born. It is because of me that the gods came into this universe.”
Magician
The ancient Egyptians chose a wise man in every society. This wise man performed various rituals with the help of the god Hecker. He was the one who helped to solve various problems of the people, to give advice and help when needed. This style of work was passed down through the generations. For example, before death, the father would give this job to his son, mother would give this job to his daughter. Therefore, it has been seen that only a certain family in a society or community was skilled and proficient in the practice of witchcraft.
The magicians of ancient Egypt were known as ‘Hekao.’ The writing was like this – ‘Hery Sheshta’ or ‘Chief of mysteries or secrets.’ The idea is that this might be a title for magicians. Some of the wooden magic items give some idea of magic at that time. These include religious papyrus, a snake-shaped magic wand made of copper, part of a magic wand, etc. However, notable among the objects was a wooden statue of a woman with a snake’s magic wand in her hand and a basset mask in her mouth.
The Egyptians did not stop at just talking about magic in life. Even after death, its widespread use is noticeable. After the death of a nobleman, the priests would recite mantras while touching various magical objects in different parts of the corpse. They believed that this ritual would enable the corpse of a dead person to speak in the afterlife. It was then customary to give some products associated with magic so that the dead could use them in the afterlife.
To the ancient Egyptians, magic was not a form of magic or illusion. Rather, They used this supernatural being to achieve a specific goal. They believed that the universe was created by magic and that a magical ring perpetrated the Malay-Shitala world. A person’s health and illness depend on this magic. It is through this magic that even the infinite journey of eternity after human death is confirmed. These destructive sorcery spells were state-sponsored.