Egyptian magic : the quest for Thoth's Book of Secrets

by Maarten J. Raven

Paper Book, 2012

Status

Available

Call number

299.31

Collections

Publication

Cairo ; New York : American University in Cairo Press, c2012.

Description

The ancient Egyptians were firmly convinced of the importance of magic, which was both a source of supernatural wisdom and a means of affecting one's own fate. The gods themselves used it for creating the world, granting mankind magical powers as an aid to the struggle for existence. Magic formed a link between human beings, gods, and the dead. Magicians were the indispensable guardians of the god-given cosmic order, learned scholars who were always searching for the Magic Book of Thoth, which could explain the wonders of nature.Egyptian Magic, illustrated with wonderful and mysterious objects from European museum collections, describes how Egyptian sorcerers used their craft to protect the weakest members of society, to support the gods in their fight against evil, and to imbue the dead with immortality, and explores the arcane systems and traditions of the occult that governed this well-organized universe of ancient Egypt.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member drj
This is a mainstream account of the use of "magic" or "heka" by Ancient Egyptians as seen in artifacts in the Museum of Leiden. Copiously illustrated with full color photographs of these sacred objects, the discussion covers not only ritual uses, but daily use by commoners as well.

Language

Original language

Dutch

Original publication date

2010-10-15

Physical description

208 p.; 23 cm

ISBN

9789774165320

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